City Council Gets Look at Proposed Budget

(CITY OFFICIALS HUDDLE OVER THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT BEGINS MAY 1 DURING A WORKSHOP THURSDAY NIGHT AT CITY HALL)

Effingham City Council members got a look at the proposed budget for the fiscal year that begins May 1 during a workshop Thursday evening at City Hall.

It's a balanced budget, totaling $76,645,390. The measure contains all required reserve levels, too. 

Other considerations include setting aside $350,000 toward the purchase next year of a fire engine, a 5% increase in property/casualty insurance, a 10% increase in workers comp, and a hike in health insurance. 

The spending plan also takes into account the hiring of four additional fulltime police officers as was agreed to by the Council several months ago, and allocates funds for hiring an Assistant Fire Chief. That position has not been finalized, though.

City Administrator Jim Arndt led the tour through the proposed budget, including almost $13.7 million in capital projects and $9.5 million in TIF projects.

TIF is a matter in the back of the minds of many City officials, though, in that it is due to expire in 2021.

The proposed budget will be posted for public inspection by the end of the business day on Tuesday, March 29. A public hearing will be held at the next regular Council meeting on April 5, followed by general discussion by Council members, and then the measure is to be voted on at the April 19 Council meeting.