A public hearing on the 2009-2010 proposed city of Auburn budget is scheduled for today's meeting of the Auburn City Council. The hearing will likely take place at the beginning of the meeting, which begins at 4:30 p.m.

The council voted last month to begin meetings earlier than the normal 6 p.m. start time through the summer.

Members of the council will have a chance to discuss the budget during the same meeting, though they will not vote on the proposal until next week.

If approved as it is currently written, the $46.7 million budget would not raise city property tax, sewer or water rates. The tax levy is set at $12.81 per $1,000 of assessed value.

However, the budget does propose eliminating a few full-time positions (police detective, automotive mechanic and parking fee collector) and two part-time clerical positions. It adds a full-time utilities director position, which is currently held by a consultant on contract, and a part-time methane utilities mechanic.

The plan would also raise a number of city fees.

The budget does not propose pulling from fund balances or reserves. However, city officials say it was formulated under the premise that all city employees would be paid wages according to their current contracts.

The city is still negotiating multiple union contracts, and if those contracts increase, that money will either be covered by a tax increase or taken from the city's reserve fund, officials have said.