By PEGGY KING
VIENNA — City governors here adopted a $4.6 million budget Monday night without an increase in the millage rate.
City Administrator Gail Bembry said Council members had discussed a possible one mill increase, but decided against it with the current economic situation.
The millage rate was left at 9.5 mills which is expected to generate a total of $388,000.
Other revenue sources for the general fund include $300,000 from Local Option Sales Tax; $300,000 from franchise taxes; $166,000 from insurance premium tax; $150,000 from fines and forfeitures; and the remaining approximate $500,000 from auto and mobile home tax, alcohol beverage tax, penalties and interest from property taxes; alcohol licenses; business licenses; and a variety of miscellaneous sources.
Special purpose local option sales tax is expected to generate some $222,000 for the city and the hotel/motel tax another $6,000.
Water, sewer and gas funds pay for themselves.
To do that, however, slight increases in water and sewer rates were also approved at Monday’s meeting.
Water customers will pay an extra 53 cents each month on debt service while sewer customers will pay 57 cents for a total of $1.10 per customer.
Bembry said this will increase the minimum water bill from $8.85 to $9.38 per month and the minimum sewage bill from $8.45 to $9.02 per month.
Of the $1.7 million allocated for the general fund, the police department will receive $651,000. Another $332,000 will go to streets, parks, the cemetery and recreation.
Administration will require $331,000; executive, legislative and judicial branches of city government, $109,000; the fire department, $107,000 and other expenses, $105,000.
Also, during the Monday meeting, a piece of city property on the east side of I-75 was declared surplus and a cost of living increase for employees was approved.
Bembry said the property was originally purchased to be used as a spray field, but is no longer needed. Approximately 8.5 acres between the Hwy. 215 and Hwy. 27 interchanges of I-75 wil be sold to the highest bidder. Sealed bids will be accepted.
City employees will be granted a two percent cost of living pay increase effective Oct. 1.
