The Union City Board of Commissioners last week voted to introduce the proposed 2002/2003 budget, which covers city services, supplies and salaries from July 1, 2002 to June 30, 2003. The city proposes a spending plan of $72.26 million, which is $885,000 less than fiscal year 2002.
Copies of the proposed budget are available at City Hall for the public’s perusal. A public hearing on the budget will be held on March 4, 2003 at City Hall and the budget is scheduled to be voted on on April 1, 2003.
The tax rate, according to the mayor, will remain essentially the same as last fiscal year. While the amount the city wants to collect from taxes is up this year from $35 million to $35.6 million, the increase in new development means that more people are contributing, so each taxpayer’s share is less.
According to Development Director Tom Leane, “The couple of large projects we have in Union City will be providing ratables like housing, retail and most importantly, image. This is a sign of movement and progress.”
Said Mayor Brian Stack in his budget message, “This budget, like years past, was not an easy budget to put together. Amongst other things, state aid has been cut, salary costs have gone up and insurance costs as a whole have increased dramatically.” Continued the mayor, “Even with these obstacles, the budget is $886,000 less than last year’s budget, allowing the taxpayers of the city to see their tax payments remain mostly constant with last year.”
As with most municipalities, the majority of expenditures go to municipal employees, fire and police.
Total appropriations, or expenditures, for the police department came to $15.3 million.
Said the mayor, “With the hiring freeze still in effect, state aid is down from last year. Our employees have had to take charge and are doing more everyday, making the city advance to meet the demands and pressures of our city.”
Under the “revenues” section of the budget, Union City expects to bring in $3.5 million from municipal court payments like parking tickets.
Total state aid in the budget decreased by approximately $1.5 million, from $26.1 million to $25.56 million.
Salaries in Union City showed an increase across the board, with police officers’ salaries increasing by over $2 million.