BUDGET: Law enforcement costs increasing

From Page 4

The proposed 2023-24 budget includes $2.06 million for the administration department that includes the city clerk and treasurer’s offices, $984,506 for the building department, $702,521 for the code enforcement department, $81,880 for the mayor and city commission, $192,344 for debt service, $454,525 for parks and recreation and $752,154 for the public works department.

The budget includes 6% wage increases for all city employees, including 3% annual salary increases and 3% one-time lump sum wage payments on Oct. 1.

Thursday’s budget meeting was the third preliminary budget meeting. During the previous two meetings, Murphy and the commission discussed the city projected revenues and the city’s anticipated capital project and improvement expenditures. The budget will be finalized during two public hearings to be held at 5:01 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7 and Thursday, Sept. 21.

The proposed 2023-24 fiscal year budget is based on the city maintaining for another year the current 2.05 millage rate assessed for the collection of the city’s ad valorem property taxes.