City to talk about budget
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on May 8, 2016 1:45 AM
The Goldsboro City Council will convene at 4 p.m. Monday to begin budget discussions for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
This proposed budget represents a more than $3 million increase from the 2015-16 fiscal year budget, totaling $57,723,174.
This number partially reflects the projected tax collection revenue for the city's general fund, utility fund, municipal service district tax fund and occupancy tax funds.
In the general fund portion of the budget, costs for an equipment loan for an aerial fire truck and other vehicles, dirt street surfacing, employee salary increases and an increase in the city's debt service are factored in.
The loan for the aerial fire truck will cost $1,531,422, dirt street surfacing will cost $270,000, employee salary increases will cost $515,371 and the city will assume new debt of $927,879.
The increase for the year's utility fund is $325,000 for a funding increase for agitator rehab at the city's compost facility.
The increase in occupancy tax collection is attributed to a one cent revenue generated from the county's occupancy tax collection, approved in 2015.
The proposed budget does not call for an increase in taxes on city residents, nor does it call for an increase in the city's fee for solid waste collection.
There is a proposed increase for water and sewer bills, which will equate to a five-cent increase for every 750 gallons of water consumed by city residents.
An average water customer uses 4,500 gallons per month, meaning city residents can expect to see an increase of 60 cents per month on their water bills.
This extra money collected will be used to expand the city's water plant and rehabilitate sewer lines throughout the city.
On the council's consent agenda is a resolution to notify the public of the city's intent to file an application with the Local Government Commission for an issuance of general obligation bonds in the amount of $7 million and an issuance of Parks and Recreation Facilities Bonds in the amount of $3 million.
This means voters could be asked to approve a bond referendum on the issuance of these bonds in November.
The second, and last, item on the council's consent agenda for Monday night is an item approving paying HH Architecture $9,900 for preliminary design services to design a new Herman Park Center.
These design services will include meeting with designers, creating an initial floor plan layout and a final floor plan layout.
The council's work session begins at 4 p.m. in room 206 of the City Hall Annex. The regular meeting begins at 7 p.m. in the council chambers of City Hall.