At presstime Wednesday the Rockdale City Council was in the midst of budget planning sessions which will propose a new budget and tax rate.
After Tuesday evening’s general fund discusion, it appears the new tax rate will be the same as the current one, 91.14 cents.
City Manager Chris Whittaker said, after asking the council for budget planning guidance two weeks ago, the consensus was to keep the budget at a five-percent increase.
Since the city’s taxable value went up during the past year (see story below), keeping the same tax rate would actually increase revenue.
BALANCED—Monday’s discussion dealt with the general fund and enterprise (water and wastewater) budgets.
Whittaker said both are balanced. General fund revenues and expenditures were put at $3,118,731, while enterprise budget revenues and expenditures are $2,941,314.
The general fund is supported by ad valorem tax revenue while water and sewer rates support the enterprise budged.
No water or sewer rate increases are proposed.
Whittaker said acrossthe-board raises are not proposed for city employees, but noted there will also be no changes to health insurance, with the same deductible and benefits.
“Health insurance only went up five percent, so that was manageable,” he said.
Whittaker said there were some increases for police dispatchers and a new police vehicle is included in the budget.
He noted some qualifying volunteer firefighters will receive increases in their retirement.
SCHEDULE—Three discussion sessions had been scheduled this week with but Whittaker said Wednesday morning it appears only the Wednesday evening meeting will be needed.
He said budget adoption will follow this schedule:
• Aug. 20—Public hearing on tax rate and budget.
• Aug. 27—Public hearing on tax rate and budget.
• Sept. 10—Adopt tax rate and budget at monthly city council session.
All meetings will be at City Hall.
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