Discussions on the city of Georgetown’s budget are underway once again, but unlike previous years, COVID-19 must be factored into decision making.
A workshop on July 21 served as a chance for City Council members to weigh options and provide direction so staff can come back in August with a proposed budget reflecting the feedback, a news release said. The preliminary budget also incorporates feedback received from residents through an online survey conducted in June. Of the more than 650 residents who took the survey, the majority:
- would not support changes to property taxes or user fees;
- rated the value of city services and the city’s efforts to address the impacts of growth as “good;” and
- would support increased funding to manage traffic and infrastructure/roads.
The overall focus of the fiscal year 2020-21 budget is to preserve and maintain city services in response both to growth and uncertainty from the COVID-19 pandemic, City Manager David Morgan said. It includes funding for 14.5 new positions, including staff for Fire Station No. 7; additional training for police; and initiating design for improvements to D.B. Wood Road, the last, large project from the 2015 bond. The budget proposal also includes cuts to base budgets in training, travel, and supplies as well as freezing six positions in the general fund for at least a partial year.
The preliminary budget does not include increases to the property tax rate, but it does reflect staff recommendations to increase sanitation rates to help pay for increased costs with Texas Disposal Systems, the reconstruction of the transfer station and improvements to the household hazardous waste program, the release said.
