Plant City commissioners will host next week the second of two public hearings regarding the city’s 2013-14 budget.
The commission is expected to approve the final budget, totaling more than $82 million, at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 23, at Sadye Gibbs Martin Auditorium at City Hall, 302 W. Reynolds St.
The $82,638,964 budget represents a $13,127,809 decrease (14%) compared to the amended 2012-13 budget. The city elected to pay off some of its Water Utility Fund bonds early, which will save about $1.5 million annually in future debt service.
For the first time in six years, the budget includes a cost-of-living wage payment. Plant City officials are proposing these payments be made in two 1.5% installments to employees during the fiscal year; it is not a permanent adjustment to base wages. The cost of the wage payment, combined with the city’s existing obligations under the public safety employee step plan, will be about $600,000.
The budget is based a property tax millage rate of 4.7157, the same rate used in 2012-13.
Here is a look at the proposed 2012-13 budget, with closer examination into the General Fund revenues, which total $25,800,238, or 31% of the revenues.
