The City of Georgetown staff and council members have begun discussing and reviewing the fiscal year 2020 budget process.
The city of Georgetown released its draft budget for the fiscal year 2019-20 on July 12.
In its general fund, the city projects a total revenue of $75.1 million, a 5.5% increase from the previous year, the report said. This fund is used to account for resources including public safety, parks, streets, library and city administration.
Sales tax – the largest revenue source in the city’s general fund – is predicted to be $17.9 million, accounting for 24% of the total general fund budget, the report said. This is a growth of 6.7% over the FY 2018-19 projection, it said.
In addition, property tax revenue is estimated at $14.8 million but the number will not be finalized until tax rolls are certified on July 25, the report said, adding due to higher valuation and new development, property tax revenue is budgeted to increase by 6.6% over the FY2018-19 projection.
The city anticipates total expenditures to be about $75 million. The funding will include salary increases for police and fire, as well as merit-based raises for employees and an increase in health insurance costs for both the city and the employees, according to the report.
Additional positions are also up for consideration in the budget and include two patrol officers, two emergency communication operators, a community engagement officer, a computer forensic crime detective, a community service director, a director of communications and engagement and a code enforcement officer, among other personnel additions.
The additional expenses also included updating body cameras for police and adding a library services outreach van, the report said.
City Manager David Morgan will propose the budget to city council Aug. 6.