Nothing was decided, but Burlington City Manager Jim Ferneau told the City Council last(Mon) night that next year’s budget…and several years after that…may continue to be disappointing to some who would like to see more get done.
Ferneau says when your expenses continue to outpace property values, progress is slow. He’s recommending a “hold-the-line” approach to the property tax levy and to the level of service the City provides. Ferneau did lay the ground-work for a rehabbed police station, which he says would cost about $700,000. Compare that to a new station…say at U-S Bank…at $6-million…including remodeling.
Ferneau is recommending a no-increase-in-the-property-tax-levy budget for next fiscal year…but that doesn’t mean you won’t pay more for essentially the same levels of service. The key word is “fees,” and Ferneau says a number of them will go up, mainly in the areas of sewer and solid-waste disposal.
The City Council will hold a budget-only work session this Friday at 5 pm. The public is welcome to attend.
