Mayor says no tax increase for next year

Mayor James Young says there will be no tax increase as far as the city government is concerned when a new budget goes into effect on Oct. 1.

Young and aldermen have been working on the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget since early July. Young said the city’s general fund will be about $5.3 million in the black when the current fiscal year ends.

It was unclear if the city schools will ask for more money. “We haven’t been approached about anything nor have I heard anything,” said Ward 1 Alderman Justin Clearman.

Young was upbeat about the city’s progress.

“So far, revenue has come in over budget estimates,” Young said. “We are able to maintain and not be stressed moving forward.

“We are estimating we will finish the fiscal year about $5.3 million over. We based everything we do when we see it. We are still working on the upcoming budget.”

The city will hold a public hearing on Aug. 29 to present the tax levy for the budget based on 20 mills, the same as the current fiscal year.

The board will hold a hearing on the budget on Sept. 5 with plans to pass the budget on Sept. 12. The city’s current fiscal year ends Sept. 30.

Young talked about the growth in the community.

“Sales tax is the pulse of your community and over the last couple of years, that heartbeat has been very strong,” Young said. “We try to budget conservatively because we really don’t know. We are projecting that the growth continues at 3 percent or 5 percent. This is what we estimate by.

“We hope to continue to put all the right things in place so we can continue to grow and then you don’t have to depend on a millage increase. Nobody wants that. No one wants to pay more taxes but we want quality goods and services. You have to find that balance where you aren’t overbearing on the people.”