In a recent government meeting, officials outlined the budget for the upcoming year, highlighting a balanced general fund budget of $46.7 million. This budget is primarily supported by property taxes, which account for 75.6% of the general fund's revenue. Other revenue sources, including fines and fees, contribute an additional $1.7 million.

Personnel costs dominate the budget, with wages and benefits making up approximately 64% of expenditures, totaling nearly $29.9 million. The budget also allocates over $2 million for capital outlay, primarily for vehicle and equipment replacements, and includes significant transfers to various funds, such as $4.4 million to the road improvement fund and $545,000 to the municipal building fund.

The meeting also addressed the property tax levy, which is set to increase by approximately 13.76%, totaling an additional $4.7 million. This increase is attributed to several factors, including new bonds issued for facilities capital improvements and park referendum bonds, which will see a substantial rise in debt service payments.

Overall, the budget reflects a strategic approach to managing city operations while addressing necessary improvements and maintaining essential services.