The Centralia City Council will be asked to approve the budget for the fiscal year beginning January first following a public hearing Monday night.
City Manager Kory Smith says the main goal of the budget is to increase economic development, decrease crime, increase safety, and continue to improve city streets, public properties, and services for residents and businesses. He reports the process began in September with Department heads submitting their proposed capital improvements.
Smith says 2022 has been a good year financially for the city. The General Fund will have a yearend balance of $3,201,968 with revenues exceeding the budget by $1,596,236 and expenses under budget by $229,264.
Some of the highlights include sales tax being $50,000 over budget, income tax, $470,000 more than budgeted, the replacement tax $895,000 over budget, oil royalties $80,000 more than budgeted and video gaming $75,000 more than what was budgeted.
The water fund is expected to end the fiscal year with a surplus with revenues exceeding budget by $53,790 and expenses under budget by $2,122. The sewer fund will end the fiscal year with a surplus of $53,943 and expenses under budget by $57,497.
After the public hearing, the city council will be asked to approve the budget at its regular meeting that follows at six Monday night.
The council will also be asked to approve its annual tax levy for next year’s property tax bills. The levy will be two-percent more than this year’s property tax collections.
The council will be asked to pass an ordinance waiving the payment of demolition permit fees again next year.
The council will consider a $100 bonus for full-time employees and $50 for part-time workers.
