PORT RICHEY - Want to have your say on the city's proposed budget for next fiscal year?
The first of two public hearings to discuss the $10.3 million 2007-08 budget, which must be in place by Oct. 1, is at 7:30 tonight at city hall.
The spending package includes a general fund that is $166,235 leaner than originally proposed. It was achieved through $18,000 in cuts to the police department's budget and an estimated $4,430 from the fire department's budget.
Also included is a property tax rate of $3.90 per $1,000 of valuation, which the council endorsed during a previous workshop. The estimated $117,000 shortfall from that loss of tax revenue will be made up with reserve funds, according to city finance officials.
City workers will be given a 3 percent cost-of-living raise and 3 percent merit raise under the new budget package, while firefighters will receive a $2-per-hour increase.
The chosen plan was one of three budget proposals submitted by former City Manager Jerry Calhoun, each with varying degrees of spending cuts.
Calhoun's initial proposal represented a 7 percent cut from the current $12.2 million budget and a tax decrease from $4.70 to $4.16 per $1,000 of valuation.
The lower tax rate is part of a rollback reform mandated by the state Legislature.
The council lowered the tax rate further and had asked for budget proposals with cuts of 10 percent, 20 percent and 30 percent. Calhoun called that request unrealistic.
A second and final public hearing is set for 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20. Then the council will take its second, and final, vote on the budget.
Copies are available at city hall, 6333 Ridge Road.
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