MONROE - Monroe Common Council passed the 2014 budget, as it was originally proposed and recommended by the city's Finance and Taxation Committee, by a narrow 5-4 margin Tuesday, Nov. 26.
Aldermen Michael Boyce, Jeff Newcomer, Tyler Schultz and Chris Beer voted against the proposed budget.
The council met in special session Tuesday to allow council members to review a budget amendment offered by Boyce last week, which called for an additional $513,000 in reduced expenditures.
Given the city's 2014 equalized property value of $642 million, Boyce calculated the changes would have lowered the tax levy rate to $8.97 per $1,000 of property value, compared to the proposed budget's tax levy of $9.77.
The adopted 2014 budget property tax will total $6.27 million, of which $5.88 million will go to general fund expenses, while $94,400 will be put toward capital projects, $72,000 will go for airport expenses and $225,000 will cover debt services.
The 2013 budget required $6.13 million in taxes, and the city levied $6.15 million for 2012.
Public comments allowed on the council floor Tuesday took aim at Boyce's additional reductions.
Pam Christopher, executive director for the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, noted her concerns with the amendment reducing staff positions, cutting salary increases, and lowering training and safety expenses.
Bill Bethke, president of the Park and Recreation Board of Commissioners; Brian Saugstad, a board commissioner; and Monroe resident Gabrielle Breadon objected to a nearly $10,000 total cut from Park and Recreation's IT administration, program operating supplies and Emerald Ash Borer program, cuts they said would hurt the programs, as well as the youths and families involved in them.
Administrator Phil Rath offered his analysis on the additional cuts. Some items, such as the Park and Recreation IT administration would be budget neutral, as it is funded by donations and fundraisers.
Other items, such as cost of living increases, the Emerald Ash Borer program and a $20,000 contingency were added back by the Finance and Taxation Committee into a preliminary budget that was headed toward a 1-percent reduction in expenditures.
The committee also added back in money for the city's use of the county transfer station.
Boyce's motion to amend the proposed budget went down in a 3-6 vote, with Boyce, Beer and Schultz voting for it.
The meeting took about 30 minutes.
Using a proposed tax rate of $9.77 per $1,000, the owner of a $100,000 home will pay $977 in property taxes to the City of Monroe next year, and the owner of a $200,000 home will pay $1,954. The tax rate was $9.68 for 2013.
Total budgeted expenses for 2014 come to $21.1 million, of which $10.37 million is in the general fund. The general fund expenses are down 0.69 percent from $10.45 million in 2013. General fund revenues are expected to be $10.45 million, up 1.83 percent compared to $10.26 million in 2013.
Aldermen Michael Boyce, Jeff Newcomer, Tyler Schultz and Chris Beer voted against the proposed budget.
The council met in special session Tuesday to allow council members to review a budget amendment offered by Boyce last week, which called for an additional $513,000 in reduced expenditures.
Given the city's 2014 equalized property value of $642 million, Boyce calculated the changes would have lowered the tax levy rate to $8.97 per $1,000 of property value, compared to the proposed budget's tax levy of $9.77.
The adopted 2014 budget property tax will total $6.27 million, of which $5.88 million will go to general fund expenses, while $94,400 will be put toward capital projects, $72,000 will go for airport expenses and $225,000 will cover debt services.
The 2013 budget required $6.13 million in taxes, and the city levied $6.15 million for 2012.
Public comments allowed on the council floor Tuesday took aim at Boyce's additional reductions.
Pam Christopher, executive director for the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, noted her concerns with the amendment reducing staff positions, cutting salary increases, and lowering training and safety expenses.
Bill Bethke, president of the Park and Recreation Board of Commissioners; Brian Saugstad, a board commissioner; and Monroe resident Gabrielle Breadon objected to a nearly $10,000 total cut from Park and Recreation's IT administration, program operating supplies and Emerald Ash Borer program, cuts they said would hurt the programs, as well as the youths and families involved in them.
Administrator Phil Rath offered his analysis on the additional cuts. Some items, such as the Park and Recreation IT administration would be budget neutral, as it is funded by donations and fundraisers.
Other items, such as cost of living increases, the Emerald Ash Borer program and a $20,000 contingency were added back by the Finance and Taxation Committee into a preliminary budget that was headed toward a 1-percent reduction in expenditures.
The committee also added back in money for the city's use of the county transfer station.
Boyce's motion to amend the proposed budget went down in a 3-6 vote, with Boyce, Beer and Schultz voting for it.
The meeting took about 30 minutes.
Using a proposed tax rate of $9.77 per $1,000, the owner of a $100,000 home will pay $977 in property taxes to the City of Monroe next year, and the owner of a $200,000 home will pay $1,954. The tax rate was $9.68 for 2013.
Total budgeted expenses for 2014 come to $21.1 million, of which $10.37 million is in the general fund. The general fund expenses are down 0.69 percent from $10.45 million in 2013. General fund revenues are expected to be $10.45 million, up 1.83 percent compared to $10.26 million in 2013.