Update on Proposed Budget

We just sent out the latest numbers on the proposed City Budget to the Common Council today. I am pleased to report that some positive progress has been made in regards to our tax levy and tax rate going into next year. As it stands today, the 2010 tax rate will decrease to $7.49 per $1,000 of valuation, that is down from $7.52 per $1,000 of assessed value this year. The overall levy increase is projected to be 1.9 percent. We originally proposed a 3 percent levy increase.  The tax rate is going down because assessed value overall increased slightly throughout Burlington. A small drop in values was expected.

Overall spending is increasing less than 1/2 of a percent over the 2009 budget, while keeping all the services we currently enjoy in place. I compliment our staff on these efforts, as they have really responded to the call to keep expenses in check for two years in a row.

The Public Hearing on the budget is scheduled for Tuesday, November 17th. The Committee of the Whole begins at 6:30 p.m. with the Common Council meeting being scheduled immediately following the conclusion of the Committee of the Whole Meeting.

Have you visited a park lately?

This cold weather automatically makes you think of Fall, doesn’t it? Over the next couple of weeks, take a moment to visit one of our parks. I recently toured almost all of them, and they look the best I have seen since I arrived here. I am very proud of our guys in the Streets and Parks Department, as they have really stepped up and gotten things done lately. As the leaves turn, take a stroll through our parks. It is the best time of the year to enjoy these tremendous resources.

More Stimulus Funds Saves City Tax Dollars

As an update to the previous post, the city has now been approved to receive $1.4 million in federal stimulus dollars for street repair. The streets included for repair next year include portions of Oak, Briody, Market, Pine, Kane and Dodge Streets. This figure equates to three years worth of our typical road improvement plan. In other words, the city has the option to not spend additional dollars on road repair for the next three years. Among other things, this will give us flexibility and options as we move into the next fiscal year.