Georgetown’s $868M budget supports new positions, merit increases

Council and city staff have been working on the proposed budget since January through a series of workshops and studies.

Budget highlights

The $868 million in expenses is made up of eight different components, which include:

• Capital projects
• The general fund
• The debt service fund
• The electric utility
• The water utility
• Internal service
• Special revenue
• Other enterprise

Regarding recruitment and retention efforts, the city is budgeting for an average merit pay increase of 4%, Young said, which will be implemented January.

New programming in the general fund includes $388,000 for four new communications operators in the police department, $119,000 for a life safety specialist in the fire department, six additional firefighter positions for $400,000 and a $125,000 library master plan.

Next steps

A final reading for the FY 2023-24 budget will take place Sept. 12.

The date for the public hearing on the property tax rate was rescheduled to Sept. 12. The first reading of the property tax rate will also take place Sept. 12, and the final reading will be Sept. 26.