ARLINGTON — The City Council at their latest meeting unanimously approved a budget for 2016 that increases annual spending on city services by about $600,000.
They also decided to raise property taxes by 1 percent. That is expected to raise taxes by about $4 per year for an average home.
The council voted Tuesday on a $50.2 million city budget that includes a $14.6 million general fund for services such as police, fire and planning.
Two other votes set the regular property tax levy and the emergency medical services levy amounts for 2016. The increase works out to about $4 more per year on a $200,000 home. Utility rates are not expected to go up.
The $14.6 million 2016 general fund is a 4 percent increase from this year’s $14 million budget.
Broken down by department, the bulk of the money goes toward police and fire services. Public safety accounts for nearly 57 percent, or $8.2 million, of the fund.
Looking at the types of expenditures rather than departments, the biggest piece is employee wages and benefits. At $8.5 million, it’s about 58 percent of the general fund. The budget does not include additional employees, though the 29-position police department is on track to get a new officer thanks to a grant, Assistant City Administrator Kristin Banfield said.
Grants received after the start of the year, or unanticipated expenses, can be added to the budget through amendments, she said.
The goal for the budget was to keep next year’s spending nearly even with this year’s, Banfield said. The only new program in the 2016 budget is for retail marketing. It’s expected to cost $52,600, according to a council presentation. Leaders hope to draw more stores to Arlington, increasing sales tax revenues through business growth.
“Everything else is status quo,” Banfield said.
Kari Bray: 4285-339-3439; kbray@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
