Newberry budget includes employee salary increase

NEWBERRY – The Newberry City Commission gave the final nod to the City’s proposed 2011/12 fiscal year budget for $7,761,518.  Except for the inclusion of a $6,000 commission travel expense item Monday evening, little changed in the budget since the first public hearing on Sept. 12.

Funding for commission travel expenses was reinstated in the budget when City Commissioner Alena Lawson suggested that each commissioner and city manager have $1,000 available for projected city-related travel, adding up to $6,000 to the final budget. The move sets up a travel fund reserve, leaving it up to the individual commissioner to decide if they need to use the money for city-related travel expenses.

Commissioners also formally approved a 2 percent salary increase for all city employees. Commissioners clarified that raise does not increase the salary of commissioners.

The property tax millage rate was kept at 3.8500, the same as last year.  The millage rate determines the taxes a property owner must pay based on the assessed taxable value of their real estate or tangible property.

Meals on Wheels, a non-profit program for senior citizens, which was at risk for of being cut from city funding during the first hearing, survived with its $22,000 budget intact.  Funding for a city fireworks display was slashed after commissioners determined that a senior citizen program was a priority.

Ashby said the most challenging part of getting the budget approved was making sure the City had enough revenue to continue providing city services. Money transfers were made from investment funds to shore up the final budget.

“With those transfers, we were able to meet our level of service requirements,” Ashby said.

The Canterbury project is still in the works, Ashby said, referring to the City’s request for funding from the Alachua County Commission. Ashby added that before further planning continues with the equestrian center, Newberry has to submit its proposal to several committees as directed last week by the Alachua County Commission.