By SEAN RICE
srice@dailystandard.com
Celina’s income is slipping away and city officials say
it’s only a matter of time before expenses outrun income.
Celina has been lucky in the last few years as the new kilowatt
hour tax added $500,000 annually to the city’s coffers.
Last year, the city also took in $559,000 in inheritance tax
following the deaths of several well-off citizens.
Celina City Council’s finance committee discussed the
possibility of Celina being overcome by overdue street upgrades
during a budget hearing Monday. Even with the occasional bonus
to the budget, there is no annual program for roadway upgrades.
“We need $350,000 a year to do all the streets that need
it. $30,000 per year ain’t going to cut it,” council
member Bob Nuding said.
“And every year it goes, (without repair) the hole gets
that much deeper,” member Denny Smith agreed.
“As a member who’s soon to be extinct, I want to
ask, when are you guys seriously going to address enhancing
our revenue,” Nuding asked, later suggesting a 1.5 percent
income tax. Nuding’s term ends Dec. 31.
Finance committee members agreed with Nuding but did not discuss
the issue. Monday was the second 2004 budget meeting, out of
several planned.
While doing a run-through of the general fund expenses, members
learned payroll cost will be more than $100,000 higher than
last year because of a fluke statistic, created in part by leap
year, that gives next year 27 pay periods instead of 26. The
extra week also increases costs to water, sewer and electric
departments.
The committee will meet several more times before recommending
a budget in early 2004.
|
