The Herald Bulletin

Council to pass final budget, salary ordinances

Final Shadyside land rezoning also awaits

By Dave Stafford
The Herald Bulletin

— ANDERSON­ — Anderson City Council on Thursday will introduce a preliminary 2011 budget for city departments, while some city departments will ask to shift money within their accounts to pay salaries for the rest of the year.

City departments have proposed 2011 budgets that will require raising $27.3 million in revenue, about $1.4 million more than was raised for this year under the current tax levy. The budget to be presented is preliminary and may be adjusted downward before its final adoption at 5 p.m. Oct. 21 at city hall.

With a budget deficit projected to rise from its current level of $2.9 million by the end of 2010 to $4.9 million in 2011, the council will have to make tough choices. A panel has been meeting regularly to weigh possible savings in city insurance benefits, whose projected increase represents the bulk of the increase in projected city spending.

The council on Thursday also is expected to approve on final reading salary ordinances for all city employees. The ordinance represents an across-the-board wage freeze.

Also coming before the council on Thursday:

• Two city departments will ask for funds to be shifted to cover salary expenses for the remainder of the year. The Anderson Park Department will ask to transfer about $15,000 from equipment funds to the salary line. Animal Care and Control will ask to shift about $19,000 from various funds to pay for temporary help.
• Final rezoning approval will be requested for 0.6 acres of Shadyside Park, which is being offered for sale as industrial property as the city attempts to convey the property to Prairie Farms dairy for expansion of the plant immediately south of the park. Council gave initial approval last month; the Park Board on Tuesday will open bids for the land.
• Greensburg 1.0 LLC will ask for a three-year property tax abatement on a proposed kidney dialysis clinic to be built at 1801 S. Jackson St. The investment of $2.2 million for the clinic is expected to create 22 jobs, according to the resolution before the council.

Contact Dave Stafford: 648-4250, dave.stafford@heraldbulletin.com