Georgetown City Council held two workshop meetings July 14 and 15 to discuss the proposed fiscal year 201415 budget. During the meetings City Council members discussed budgeting policy as well as a variety of programs in department budgets they would like to see altered.
City Manager Paul Brandenburg presented the $231.1 million budget, which includes the citys $52 million general fund budget as well as a $40.4 million capital improvements budget, a $46.9 million Georgetown Utility System budget and a $37.1 million purchase power budget.
The general fund serves as the citys operating budget and is about 4.6 percent more than the previous years $49.4 million budget.
The proposed budget includes 31 new staff positions in a variety of departments, including police, fire and the utility systems departments; $400,000 to study options for the design of a downtown parking garage; $1.7 million for the first phase of the citys civic center project, known as Downtown West; and a cost-of-living pay increase as well as merit pay increases. The cost-of-living increase was covered by a 0.75 percent across-the-board reduction in all city department budgets, according to the proposed budget summary.
The proposed budget also includes a 2.88 percent solid waste rate increase, which was approved by City Council on July 8. The rate change will help pay for fuel and labor costs, which have increased, Georgetown Conservation Services Manager Kathy Ragsdale said.
City Councilman Tommy Gonzalez requested putting $150,000 a year for five years in a cemetery fund. The money would be used to help with the citys liability for the facility and pay for cemetery maintenance and upkeep in the future.
These monies and these liabilities concern me and the sooner we close the gap the more comfortable I will feel for our city in the future, Gonzalez said, referring to the citys Texas Municipal Retirement System unfunded liability and the cemetery.
Gonzalez also suggested the city put more money into the TMRS.
City Councilman Keith Brainard also requested city staff members look at how much it would cost to keep the recreation center open seven days a week or keep the facility open on Sundays and close it on Mondays.
City Council members suggested additional changes to be brought back for further discussion at upcoming budget hearings.
Brandenburg said the budget proposes a property tax rate of $0.435 cents per $100 of property valuation, which is nearly half a cent below the current rate of $0.4395 per $100 of property valuation.
The average home value, which will be certified July 25, increased 16.2 percent in Georgetown to $221,723. In FY 201314 the average home value was $190,802, Georgetown Chief Financial Officer Micki Rundell said.
Rundell said the budget addressed the citys growth needs as well as legal requirements while being lean and addressing the councils strategic goals.
City Council will have a third budget workshop July 22 at 2 p.m. to discuss changes to the proposed budget, and will have a vote to set the maximum tax rate during its regular meeting July 22, which begins at 6 p.m.
A special budget workshop is also scheduled for July 29 at 6 p.m., according to a city news release.
The first and second public hearings on the tax rate will be Aug. 12 and 19 at 6 p.m. The first public hearing on the budget will be Aug. 26 at 6 p.m. The first reading of the budget and tax rate will also be Aug. 26. The second readings will be Sept. 9 at 6 p.m.
The meetings will be held in the Council Chambers and Municipal Court Building at 101 E. Seventh St.
A copy of the budget can be found at the Georgetown Public Library, 402 W. Eighth St., at City Hall, 113 W. Eighth St., or online at www.georgetown.org.
