Despite decreased valuations, rising costs, and fewer fund from the state, McPherson City Commissioners found a way to lower the city’s mill levy for the upcoming 2010 fiscal year.
The proposed city budget, which was published in Tuesday’s McPherson Sentinel, has a total mill levy of 51.334, a 0.004 decrease from the 51.338 mill levy for fiscal year 2009.
Assessed valuation of property within the city decreased to $102,894,817 for 2010, a $1,773,460 decrease from the city’s 2009 assessed valuation. The decrease in valuation was caused by changes made by the state for the calculation of person property. The real estate part of the assessed valuation increased nearly $1.5 million with an increase of $798,953 for the new improvements in the city.
The 2010 budget includes $27,499,117 in anticipated expenditures, which is slightly higher than the $27,108,211 in revised expenditures in the 2009 budget. The increase includes more funds for fuel, paving and other expenditures.
Commissioners also took into consideration the elimination of demand transfers from the state, which resulted from the state’s current budget shortfall. The transferred were supposed to be re-enstated in 2009 but falling revenues prevented the state from re-starting the payments. The city did not figure the payments into its 2009 budget and do not have the payments factored in as revenue for the 2010 budget.
McPherson city administrator Gary Meagher said the commission also took into account less revenue from lower interest rates on invested funds.
“With the rising fuel and other costs, the commissioners and department heads had a difficult job this year,” Meagher said. “Everyone this year will be tightening their belts and trying to keep services as they are by operating efficiently.”
City department heads played a larger role in creating this year’s budget. Budget planning began in May and last month commissioners prioritized the requests and outlined the city’s budget.
The city’s major infrastructure project is expected to be the reconstruction of First Street from Kerschner Drive to Hospital Drive.
The McPherson Public Library expansion project is being funded through the half-percent sales tax and the wastewater treatment plant renovation work is being paid for through monthly sewer rates, which were increased in 2008 and are expected to increase again in the future to meet debt requirements.
The city will also not fill non-essential positions vacated through attrition. Some part-time and seasonal positions will also be eliminated.
A public hearing for the budget will be held at 9 a.m. July 20, at the Municipal Center. Specific budget information is available at the city officers and will also be available during Monday’s meeting.
