The city has approved the 2020 annual budget.
City Finance Director Paulynn Carey said the 2020 total budget was $32,674,365 which is a 4% increase over the 2019 budget.
Carey said that the city was able to balance the budget, using $2,002 from reserves.
Property tax revenue is figured with a 2.4% CPI (consumer price index) which is set by the state Department of Revenue. Currently, new growth is .66%. The total property tax increase at this time is $154,501.
Sales tax for all three penny’s is budgeted with a decrease of 3%. Carey said the city is budgeting close to what the city took in at the end of 2018. The 1st penny will be $3,500,000, 2nd penny $3,500,000 and 3rd penny is $380,000. Carey says sales tax collections have been down for the past few years and were down about 3% as of last Friday.
The Capital Asset Committee had a final meeting September 3rd with recommendations for 2nd Penny for budget as follows: General Fund $2,474,768, Parks and Rec $70,000, Central Park/Splash Central $21,285, Community Campus $13,200, Dispatch $9,500, Huron Event Center $36,612, Debt Service $656,570, Airport $169,020 and Golf $99,045. Total from second Penny for 2020 is $3,550,000.
Enterprise Funds Capital Asset recommendations include: Water $1,151,970, Sewer $2,166,415 includes design and engineering of SBR’s and new anaerobic cover, solid waste $340,900. Total 2020 Capital Requests is $7,209,285.
There are large street projects, a water main project and the sewer project set for 2020.
At this time, utilities will increase by 2.4%. Carey said the city will look at that resolution in early December. A water and sewer rate study was approved in August 2019 and will be reviewing all rates including domestic and industry load on the sewer system.
Carey said it has been a difficult budget year and she appreciates the work of the various city departments and the city commission.