Centerville OKs budget, delays tax decision

CENTERVILLE — City Council approved a $7,365,018 budget as expected during its monthly work session Tuesday.

The budget for the coming 2010-11 fiscal year calls for a 1-mill tax increase which will be voted on after the tax digest is set in late August or early September, said Patrick Eidson, Centerville city administrator. He said the increase would amount to a $40 increase for property valued at $100,000.

The budget also takes into account a 10 percent increase in water and sewer rates, which council also passed Tuesday.

According to figures Eidson presented to council, budget expenditures for 2010-11 are $478,735 less than those of the previous 2009-2010 budget.

“We did everything we could to keep (spending) down and still do business for the city,” said Mayor John Harley. “You can’t ask for a better job from (Councilmen) Tucker and Smith and the city’s staff.”

Councilman Edward Tucker, who was part of the budget review board along with Councilman Robert Smith, said the budget reflected a commitment from both council and department heads to keep costs as low as possible, while keeping services high.

“I challenge anyone to find a governing entity that cut expenditures as much as we did without cutting a single person,” he said. “People complain about the national government and how it’s handling the budget, the City of Centerville is listening. We’re cutting costs, keeping services and focusing on people who deserve it.”

The budget does not include performance-based or cost-of-living salary increases, Christmas bonuses or new hires.

Regarding the water and sewer increase, Harley reiterated there had not been a water and sewer increase since 2005. He said the increase should have happened in 2009.

Tucker said the approved 10 percent increase was specifically on water and sewer fees and not on the entire water-sewer-sanitation bill residents receive. He said it was not a profit generating increase, but called it a move the help water and sewer costs break even.

Officials said the increase will become effective with the July 10 billing cycle.