The Collegedale budget for fiscal year 2015-2016 has no property tax increase. The tax rate will remain at $1.37 per $100 of assessed value.
City Manager Ted Rogers said that the budget this year is “business as usual,” with nothing out of the ordinary. Total revenues are in the ballpark of $8.7 million in the general fund with expenditures slightly below that. There is also an airport and sewer fund.
A public hearing and first reading of the new budget took place at the city commission meeting Monday night and was approved unanimously by the commissioners. The current 2014-2015 budget was amended so that expenditures which were estimated when the budget was created, will reflect the actual costs at the end of the fiscal year.
Because of the tremendous growth the city is seeing, a new department is being created to promote economic development. An assistant will also be hired for Director of Strategic Planning Kelly Martin. Money will be shifted from other areas to fund this new department.
The purchase of equipment that is built into the new budget includes four vehicles and portable radios for the police department, and a hook and lift system will be bought for the public works department. Concrete benches will be bought and an A-4 plane will join the tank and helicopter that are already at Veterans Park. It will be acquired with a combination of funds from private and city sources. Work on the Prospect Church Road Bridge will continue in the coming year.
Collegedale Foundation Director David Barto told the commissioners that restoration of the historic spring house at the Edgemon family home has been completed. The current home and spring house, that was used to store food, were built in 1920. The Cherokee Indians built the first spring house at the same location 120 years ago. A formal presentation will take place soon, he said.
Eric Sines, director of public works, reported that bids for paving were received from two companies. The low bid was $160,467.
Mayor Katie Lamb asked the city manager to review police personnel policies to make sure all have been voted on by the commission.