Council Supports Increase in Budget

The city budget proposed for fiscal 1996-97 calls for spending about $142,000 more than in the current fiscal year and has the support of all five City Council members.

Total spending for this fiscal year, which ends June 30, is projected to be $1,738,087. The new budget, to go into effect July 1, calls for expenditures of $1,879,937.

No formal vote was held at the council’s study session Tuesday night on the budget proposal, but all council members said they generally approve of the plan. A public hearing, followed by a council vote, is set for June 25.

Council members praised City Manager Fred Maley and his staff for putting together the new budget.

“The whole city staff has done an excellent job,” Councilman Bob Patchin said.

Council members said they are particularly pleased that the city is ending this fiscal year with a surplus: about $200,000. That unexpectedly large cushion gave the city more leeway to plan for the year ahead, officials said.

Maley told the council that the new budget projects a surplus of about $32,000 in the 1996-97 budget, which calls for about $45,000 more to be spent for street paving than in the current fiscal year.