Shenandoah City Council unanimously adopted an $8.5 million operating budget Sept. 13 while lowering the FY 2017-18 property tax rate. The budget includes a property tax rate of 20.99 cents per $100 valuation, which is lower than the effective tax rate—the average rate at which an individual or corporation is taxed—of 21.08 cents per $100 valuation. “Keeping property tax rates for Shenandoah low is a priority because it's an opportunity to allow residents to benefit from the great sales tax base and an incentive for developers to purchase and develop land to increase sales tax revenue,” Interim City Administrator Kathie Reyer said. The adopted budget also includes funding for several capital improvement projects, including $50,000 for a water conservation rebate program and $50,000 for a water plant No. 2 booster project. The budget also includes $100,000 for a special events center feasibility study and architectural services, which is also included in the Shenandoah Municipal Development District budget, as the funding source for the study has not yet been determined. “Some capital purchases were only partially funded to ensure these products were the best option and would work for the [Shenandaoh] Police Department,” she said. “SPD has the option to purchase the remaining [items] next year if they want to based on their evaluation of these items this year.” The adopted budget also allows the city to move from audio recording of meetings to video recordings by allocating $5,000 for equipment. Shenandoah will also take on payments for residential trash service, saving the average household $208.32 annually. The change will be reflected beginning with residents’ November utility bills, Reyer said. Other changes to the adopted budget include moving the Shenandoah Business Association from the administration budget to its own department, moving fire services from the nondepartment budget to its own department and eliminating a second building inspector position. City staff will receive annual raises on their anniversary dates, in accordance with the city’s pay scale. “Overall, I think that council handled the budget very well this year,” Mayor Ritch Wheeler said. “I think some of the biggest accomplishments [in this budget] include saving the taxpayers money and providing them more bang for their buck. There are always going to be differences of opinions, but that’s what makes democracy great.”