Council, city staff begin discussing Marble Falls 2012-2013 budget
MARBLE FALLS — Funding allocations for city agencies, basic services and tourism are all on the table July 10-11 as city leaders roll up their sleeves to consider the 2012-2013 fiscal year budget.
The annual budget workshops begin each day at noon in the council chambers, 800 Third St. The sessions are open to the public.
“This workshop is a refining process,” Mayor George Russell said. “It allows for a real open discussion among the council and staff about the budget.”
City Manager Ralph Hendricks has discussed giving municipal employees a cost-of-living increase, the first since 2010.
The city must adopt a tax rate and budget by Sept. 31. The current city budget is $21.5 million, which includes the general fund, debt service and water/wastewater fund.
The city property tax rate is 64.35 cents per $100 valuation. The city also levies a 2 percent sales tax to support the budget.
On July 10, the council and staff will consider:
• Marble Falls Economic Development Corp. budget
• Capital Improvement Plan Committee recommendations
• Hotel Committee ordinance possible amendments
• Hotel Occupancy Tax Committee recommendations for funding
• Outside agency funding requests
During the July 11 budget workshop, council and staff will discuss:
• Marble Falls budget
• health insurance
• employee compensation
• preliminary budget (general fund, utility fund, special revenue fund and capital projects fund)
• overall budget and tax rate
Hendricks said residents are welcome to view the workshops.
“So it’s a very open process,” he said.
While city officials don’t see any major projects for the coming fiscal year, the workshop gives them a chance to fine-tune the community’s needs, the mayor said.
“There are still a lot of things that need to be discussed,” Russell said. “We have capital improvement projects — nothing really new — but still have to look at things such as roads and other infrastructure.”