The City of Jefferson is preparing its 2009 budget and as drafted, proposes an increase in city spending of around three percent. No hike in the city’s millage rate is anticipated, but due to growth in the town’s digest, the city projects to collect nearly $300,000, or 11 percent, more in property taxes with the current rate.
The budget and tax rate should be set by the end of August, according to the city’s timetable.
The city’s general fund budget is currently set at $7.7 million. For the first time, the town’s debt service payments are expected to top $1 million in 2009, making it the town’s third largest expense. The town’s largest department is Police at $1.9 million followed by recreation at $1.2 million.
A majority of the town’s revenues are expected to come from taxes. But due to the slow economy, the city is projecting only small growth in sales tax income over 2008, an amount that is even less than what was collected in 2007.
Fine income is expected to go up in 2009, but the budget calls for that to also be less than what was collected in 2007.
Recreation fees are expected to climb by over $100,000 in 2009, however to a total of $609,400. That is 72 percent more than what was collected in rec fees in 2007.
For more details on the 2009 Jefferson budget and results of the 2007 city audit, see the July 23 issue of The Jackson Herald.
