No New Taxes, Fees in Proposed Budget

City Administrator Ray Silver is proposing a $109-million operating budget for the 1998-99 fiscal year that is 1% larger than last year’s and includes no new taxes or fees.

Some residents made an emotional plea to the City Council on Monday to resurface potholed streets and repair downtown’s aging sewer system.

“It’s time for a move back to the basics to take care of our streets, to take care of our sewers,” said resident Sally Satterfield. “The Public Works Department fills up the potholes and a couple of days later, they open up again.”

Silver said the city is well aware of those problems. A citizens committee is reviewing infrastructure problems.

Next year’s budget calls for spending $1 million on emergency street repairs and another $1 million on the sewer system.

The city’s total budget is about $213 million, with capital funds such as water and sewer included. With an improved economy, tax revenues are rising a bit, Silver said.

If the budget is approved, the city will spend a total of $6.3 million on one-time expenses, such as infrastructure repairs.

Salaries and benefits also have increased by about $2.7 million this year with new labor contracts.

The public hearing on the budget will be Sept. 8 and the council is expected to adopt the plan Sept. 21.