HUMBOLDT — Humboldt council members, on a split vote, approved the city’s 2012 budget Monday night over objections of a handful of citizens.
The budget projects spending of just under $3.15 million, including $1,087,554 in the general fund, compared to $2.5 million total and $916,247 in the general fund this year.
The property tax levy to support next year’s budget will be 73.172 mills, an increase of 9.598 over this year’s 63.574. The levy increase is the first of significance in the last decade, during which it ranged from 55.73 to 63.744. That almost 10-mill increase will net about $64,000.
Figures provided by City Administrator Larry Tucker showed the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $165.60 more with next year’s levy.
Mayor Nobby Davis explained that contrary to what was said a week ago, a new position of parks superintendent would not be created within the new budget. A current employee will take on those responsibilities, he said.
Looking at the broader view, Davis said council members preferred to keep the levy static, but “eventually you have to step up and meet needs. No one sitting up here enjoys raising taxes, we’re just doing what needs to be done.”
His remarks came in response to Anna Ford’s contention that “the levy already is too high. People are struggling …” and “we don’t need a new park,” in reference to comments earlier that a park might be developed on land given to the city near the new senior housing project.
Ford questioned salary raises, proposed at 2 percent for hourly workers and 5 percent for department heads, and asked whether council members “realize the state of the economy.”
Terry Butts, who owns Terry’s Flower Shop and Home Decor downtown, said she understood the city had to meet federal mandates, including improvements in water and sewage processing, but also lamented the state of the economy. She said it was difficult to “keep the downtown going when you beat us down,” with a higher property taxes and a proposed half-cent sales tax increase that voters will decide later this month in a mail-ballot election.
Butts said she thought council members were making “silly decisions, that’s why I’m upset.”
Vada Aikins, council member, defended the tax increase. She said improvements to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements at the swimming pool and in parks were unforeseen, and came about after a federal audit of city facilities. Talk about a park near the senior housing was more about “cleaning up the area that’s unsightly now,” she said.
“I want to see you use common sense,” Butts continued. “I don’t think you’re listening to us.”
Ford noted that at home “you have X number of dollars for necessities,” and that the city should do likewise, meet what is necessary “not what you want to do. A 9-mill increase (in the tax levy) is too much.”
Dan Julich, another council member, said reserves were spent down last year to pay off loans and save interest expenses and now “we’re trying to build them back up.”
Also, he explained, “we’re so far behind on the water and sewer plants,” somewhat due to state and federal mandates and “we have to take care of them.”
“We’ve held down the budget (and its levy) every year, that’s why we’re in the mess we’re in now,” interjected Aikins. “When is the time” to raise money to meet needs? “When I’m dead and gone and my grandkids will have to do it?
