MEADVILLE —
Six weeks before the City of Meadville’s 2013 budget is scheduled to be put into place, the first, most preliminary version shows a deficit of $328,000. However, city taxpayers won’t necessarily end up paying the approximately 2-mill property tax increase it would take to close the gap. If put into effect, the increase would boost the current 20.92 mills to 22.92 mills, boosting the tax bill for a city residence with the median assessed value of $25,000 by $50 to a new total of $573.
“The city staff will continue to seek ways to improve efficiency, cut costs and increase revenues over the coming weeks,” City Manager Joe Chriest told City Council in his annual budget statement, which was delivered during council’s work session Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s going to be a challenge again,” Chriest said during a press briefing before the session began.
Although he maintained that the budget will somehow all work out in the end, “sometimes it just feels like we’re just managing the decline,” he said during a candid moment.
Faced with ongoing increases in the cost of basic expenses such as asphalt for patching potholes, a landlocked geographical location with little remaining room for commercial expansion in a county that has not had a full-scale property reassessment for more than three decades is especially problematic, according to Chriest. With the city’s overall assessed value showing an increase of only $5 million since 1988, the city cannot rely on income generated by growth to fund rising expenses.
“People want services,” Chriest observed. “Sometimes they don’t want to pay for them — sometimes they do.”
According to Chriest, there is at least one positive note: The city’s move to new municipal headquarters actually comes out a net positive for the city’s bottom line, even without taking the “economic development” advantages of bringing Ainsworth Pet Nutrition’s corporate headquarters into the former city building, or lowered utilities costs resulting from the move into much smaller quarters.
The first version of the 2013 budget will be available online at cityofmeadville.org this morning. A print version will also be available for inspection in the city clerk’s office at 894 Diamond Park.
Budget schedule
Notebooks containing the 114-page proposed budget were distributed to members of Meadville City Council during their Wednesday-afternoon study session in Meadville’s new city hall. All future sessions are scheduled for council chambers at 984 Diamond Park. They include:
Nov. 14, 5:45 p.m. — First public hearing.
— 6 p.m., first council study session on the budget; will feature presentations on allocations for Meadville Area Recreation Authority; Meadville Police Department; Meadville Central Fire Department; Department of Public Works; and the Parking Fund.
Nov. 20, 5:45 p.m. — Second public hearing.
— 6 p.m., regular council meeting
— 6:30 p.m., council study session on the budget featuring presentations on allocations for city treasurer, city clerk, city manager, council, attorney and finance as well as general government revenues and special funds.
Dec. 5, 4 p.m. — Regular council study session; first and second readings of the 2013 budget and tax ordinance.
Dec. 19, 6 p.m. — Regular council meeting; final adoption of 2013 budget and tax budget and tax ordinances.
Jan. 1, 2013 — Budget goes into effect.
Mary Spicer can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at mspicer@meadvilletribune.com.
Local News
Meadville's prelim budget has gaps to close
- Local News
-
-
Scam falsely using name of local hospital
A phone scam is falsely using the name of a local hospital.
-
Interstate 79 northbound down one lane until tonight
Interstate 79 northbound is restricted to one-lane traffic in Crawford County from Exit 141 (Geneva/Cochranton, Route 285) to Exit 147A (Meadville, Route 6 east, Route 322 east) due to roadwork.
-
Fighting multiple sclerosis one step at a time
The Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society crossed the finish line of a successful 2013 event season with its Meadville MS Walk in Roche Park on Sunday afternoon, according to organizers and participants.
-
Maplewood 'scores' funds toward new scoreboard
On June 7, Ethan Moody will make the ceremonial journey across the stage to receive his high school diploma. Soon thereafter, he will bid farewell to Maplewood Junior-Senior High School before advancing onto the next stage in his life.
-
Master Gardeners lead charge to get park planted
The flowers at Mary B. DeArment Memorial Park don’t just spring up out of the ground.
The year-round maintenance of Penn State Master Gardeners of Crawford County and additional volunteers ensures a colorful welcome to Meadville, according to members who spent their Saturday morning in the group’s culminating effort, its annual DeArment Park Planting. -
5/18/13 SLIDESHOW: DeArment Park Planting
Click photo for slideshow -
Technology speeds disaster alerts, response
Caitria O’Neill remembers her reaction to hearing tornado warnings on June 1, 2011. She went to the grocery store and said, “because I live in Massachusetts, and we don’t get tornadoes.”
-
Primary could decide Vernon supervisors spot
With three Republican candidates running for nomination and no opposing Democrats, the race for a spot on the Vernon Township Board of Supervisors could be decided this spring.
-
Communication key in keeping public safe during disaster
When bad weather is closing in on Crawford County, communication is key in keeping the public safe, according to Allen Clark, director of Emergency Management for the Crawford County Office of Emergency Services.
- NEW LOCAL: Canadian earthquake doesn't shake northwest Pennsylvania much
- More Local News Headlines
-
Scam falsely using name of local hospital
Raw: Accused US Spy Reportedly Leaves Russia
AP CEO: Records Seizure 'Unconstitutional'
Fatal Hot Air Balloon Accident in Turkey
Tornadoes, Storms Strike Midwest
'Babyland': Camp Lejeune's Toxic Legacy?
Raw: Heavy Tornado Damage in Shawnee, Okla
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
