City Council gets first looks at budget

By: Christopher Caskey / The Citizen

Thursday, May 1, 2008 9:49 PM EDT

AUBURN -- Auburn is changing, that is for sure. But if City Manager Mark Palesh's proposed budget passes in its current state, three things will stay the same.
Palesh presented his proposal Thursday night to Auburn City Council for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. The $47 million budget includes some changes, but no increases in property taxes, sewer rates or water rates.

Palesh said during the work session that he spent "considerable time" negotiating with all the city department heads to keep costs low while maintaining the current level of services.

"I think we are in the best position a city can be in without raising taxes," Palesh said. "I think I have been equally tough on everyone here, and we are going to do the best using what the public has given us."

Palesh's budget proposes property taxes remain at $12.81 per $1,000 of assessed value. It calls for an overall increase of 1.5 full-time city employees, and it establishes a $200,000 reserve fund for worker's compensation and a $300,000 reserve for Governmental Accounting Standards Board guidelines.

The proposed budget also calls for overtime costs to be cut in all departments.

Councilors Thomas McNabb, Gilda Brower Matt Smith and William Graney all had positive initial reactions during and after the meetings.

To read the full report see Friday's edition of The Citizen

The Citizens' Say

Post your comment - click here

There are 1 comment(s)

stick wrote on May 2, 2008 10:26 AM:

" They say our taxes won't go up but they do. They rise our assessment. So the tax rate remains the same but the assessment goes up so we pay higher taxes. "

REGISTRATION IS FREE.
Registered users sign in here:
*Member ID:
*Password:
Remember login?
(requires cookies)
 
Unregistered users can register here:

Do not use usernames or passwords from your financial accounts!

Note: Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required!

*Create a Member ID:
*Choose a password:
*Re-enter password:
*E-mail Address:
*Year of Birth:
 

(children under 13 cannot register)

First Name:
Last Name:
Company:
Home Phone:
Business Phone:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
 
E-Citizen
E-Edition
Wheels Etc.
Find a vehicle
Hot Jobs
Find a Job
Homes Etc.
Find a Home
TV Week
Find a program
Search Classifieds
Find, Buy
Place a Classified Ad
Sell
Skaneateles Journal
The Journal
Newspaper Ads
See it again
New! CNY Boats Etc.
Achors aweigh!
New! Golf Guide
A map of nearby golf courses
Sections
Special Sections

Top Jobs

The Citizen Copyright ©2009
A division of Lee Publications, Inc.
25 Dill Street
Auburn, NY 13021

Contact Us

Add to My Yahoo!