According to city budget documents, the city projects $11.55 million in general fund revenue for 2023-24.
Sorting out details
The approved tax rate is lower than the 2022-23 tax rate of $0.1477 per $100 valuation, while the city's appraisal roll is $1.47 billion for 2023, up from $1.46 billion in 2022, according to township records.
In the FY 2023-24 budget:
- Sales tax revenue is projected at about $8.28 million, up from $7.81 million in 2022-23.
- The budget includes $3.95 million for the Shenandoah Police Department, up from $3.56 million in 2022-23.
- The police department budget includes $2.38 million for salaries and wages, up from $2.16 million.
- The budget includes $1.12 million for public works, up from $1.06 million in 2022-23.
- Water and sewer department salaries and wages are increasing from $578,376 to $651,750.
Council Member Michael McCleod suggested putting Chevrolet Tahoe police vehicles into the budget as a recurring expense and to budget for trash service to be paid for by residents.
Finance Director Lisa Wasner said cash is not typically used for a recurring operating expense.
“We may have to back up and take a hard look in the next several months about the trash service; it’s just reality, as these [new businesses] come online, as we start looking at our sales tax revenue, we may still be able to continue that,” McCleod said. "We had a surplus from last year that even after we top up our emergency fund still leaves us with enough cash to do these things. ... I would pay for Tahoes before I paid for trash.”
“We don't want to ... have a capital purchase like that affect our [no-new-revenue tax rate] every year,” Council Member Ted Fletcher said.
