By Ginger Jarvis
Greene Publishing, Inc.
Madison’s budget will come up for its second reading at a special commission meeting and public hearing on Thursday, September 27. The commissioners will hear comments on the proposed 2011-2012 budget and a proposed increase in property taxes.
City Manager Harold Emrich presented the proposed budget for its first reading at the regular board meeting on September 13. A balanced budget, the plan anticipates $6,756,254 in revenues with an equal amount in expenditures. Emrich estimates that water and sewer will bring in $2,194,000, natural gas will produce $1,043,750, and sanitation will yield $344,000. This is based on a millage rate of 6.0484, the same as it has been for several years.
The budget includes a one-time-only bonus for employees. It also includes debt service for an expansion of the water plant and revenues from grants and some non-recurring funds. The commissioners unanimously approved a motion by Commissioner Myra Valentine and Commissioner Judy Townsend to accept the budget as presented.
The special meeting on September 27 will be the last opportunity for discussion and comment on the budget before a vote for final approval.For information on the property tax levy, readers can consult the legal advertisement in this newspaper or at City Hall.
In other business, the commissioners gave final approval to a reduction in the impact fee for a second water meter for customers who have already installed one meter. The second meter, monitoring lawn and garden water, will carry a $250 impact fee plus the cost of the meter and the backflow device. This is a major decrease from the $1200 impact fee for the first meter. No sewage fee is charged for the second meter.
The commissioners also approved Carlton Burnette and Mary Luster to fill two vacancies on the Citizens Advisory Task Force.
Townsend asked about the possibility of taking bids for the city audit for 2011-2012. Mayor Jim Catron replied that this item could be on the October agenda with the goal of allowing local businesses to bid on the process, which usually begins in November. The same company has audited the city’s books for over 16 years.
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