The first hearing on the proposed budget is set for May 17th and Andrew expects extra revenue and a bigger population to be positive factors.
"We see our property tax revenue to stay flat, I guess that's better than the norm," Andrew said. "The county re-assessed the south part of the county's property values early, so we've gone through our hit on property values. The Census
has actually caused us to gain a little revenue for different franchise fees and things like that because it recognizes more people living in the community."
Andrew said 2013's budget should be less than this year's budget, adding that there will be no roll-up or tax increase.
"The budget as a whole is a little under $5.5-million with water, sewer and the general fund," Andrew said. "This year we're trying to do a capital budget also that's going to be fairly substantial so rounded off it should be around $6-million."
Andrew said the new population numbers should provide more revenues from another area.
"What happened is we used to get a $25 fee for every insurance policy taken in the city," he said. "When we went to the new census data we jumped from $25 to $50 and the revenue rose $177,000."
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITY LIST
City Council got an update on its action list from the March 17th retreat and Mayor Mike Miller said a new municipal complex just up the street in a former manufacturing plant was high up on that list.
"We've got many opportunities and we don't have a prioritized list," Miller said. "That was the main thing, getting a prioritized list. Mainly we want a downtown complex for City Hall and we have a great need for a police department."
Miller added that the main issue is how to pay for such a project but before you find out how to pay for it you have to determine what you're paying for. In addition to the City Hall complex the city wants infrastructure improvements to roads, sewer and storm water systems.
Andrew expects extra revenue and a bigger population to be positive factors
Mayor Mike Miller said a new municipal complex just up the street in a former manufacturing plant was high up on that list
http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/5/248218