Public hearing set Tuesday on mayor's proposed budget

A public hearing is scheduled Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. for review of the proposed city budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1. The budget has not yet been discussed at a City Council meeting. That will take place following the public hearing.
The budget to be submitted by Mayor Rusty Moody expects a 10 percent increase in revenue over the current year budget, with the growth coming in sales tax collections and utility service charges. The proposal is available for inspection at the mayor’s office
In addition to hearing from the public on the proposed budget, the council will hear comment on the proposed amended budget. Amendments to the 2013-14 document adopted last June will reflect that almost all of the projected revenue growth in the new budget is already being realized.
Moody’s spending plan does not include any general pay increase for employees. Annual cost-of-living steps are included in the salary allocations.
The mayor expects total revenues of $19.77 million, compared to the $17.12 originally forecast June for the current year.
That increase includes about $100,000 more in sales tax collections and about $600,000 in transfers from enterprise accounts.
Moody, out of town on vacation last week and unavailable to discuss his proposal, expects the city to spend about $86,000 less than it takes in. That compares to the $102,000 projected operating deficit last June for the current year. Revenue growth, however, made that deficit avoidable and the city expects to end the current year at a break-even point.
The police and fire departments are in line for major hits in their budgets.
The mayor’s proposal calls for $2.51 million in police spending, compared to $2.66 million original budget in the current year and $2.47 million in the amended budget.
Spending cuts are included for the Police and Fire Departments. The Police proposal is $2.51 million and the fire is $1.44 million. Substantial reductions are included in salaries, primarily overtime. Increases are included for general and group insurance costs.
Substantial budget increases are proposed for the Sanitation, Sewer and Waste Dept. and the Gas Dept.
Moody wants $2.02 million for the former, compared to $1.26 million in the amended current budget, and $3 million in the latter, compared to $1.1 million. The increased appropriations would be from state capital outlay and the city sales tax and utility enterprise funds would cover costs of some of the repairs needed in both systems.