The overview
The proposed budget includes a new rate of $0.2058 per $100 of valuation, up from last year's rate of $0.1917 per $100 of valuation.
The higher rate would raise $270,139 in new revenue for the city, or about 9% more than last year, according to city documents.
The voter-approved rate is the highest the city can raise the property tax rate without requiring an election.
At an Aug. 21 meeting, city leaders explained that the average resident would only spend an additional $12 per month with the voter-approved rate versus the no-new-revenue rate of $0.1974 per $100 of valuation.
The reason
Mayor Gavin Massingill also said the higher rate is mostly due to the 2022 voter-approved bonds and will ensure the budget is balanced going into FY 2025-26.
The breakdown of expenses
- A utility truck
- Salary increases for city staff
- A wastewater monitoring system
- Street paving
- Park trail/landscape improvements
- Grinder pump maintenance
- Tree trimming services
"I think this is a really solid, conservative budget," Massingill said. "I think you've got a very reasonable argument to make to any of your constituents that the exceptional items you approved are all worthy, and most importantly, you're trying to make sure that you go into the next budget cycle for [FY 2025-26] with the appropriate funds ... going forward without having to go above the voter-approval rate again."
What's next
Another public hearing on the budget will take place Sept. 4, and the tax rate will be approved Sept. 18, according to the city's calendar.
