Landrum public hearing Sept. 24 to approve 2013-2014 budget
Published 9:10 pm Sunday, September 22, 2013
Residents have one last chance to voice opinions they may have on the City of Landrum’s $1.6 million budget during a public hearing set for Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Landrum City Administrator Caitlin Martin said city officials worked about a month ago to tighten the budget as they feared a high increase in insurance costs was on the horizon.
“Everything is balanced and it does not include any mileage increases,” Martin said.
In late August an insurance increase of just 6.8 percent, not the 13 percent feared, was announced.
“I’m glad the budget is not quite as bad as what we thought when we were originally looking at insurance costs,” said councilman Johnny Carruth during the council’s Sept. 10 meeting.
Revenues for fiscal year 2013-2014 are estimated to decrease by 3.08 percent over the previous year and expenditures are estimated to decrease 2 percent over the previous year. The proposed millage remains at 73.9 mills.
Council and Martin lowered expected revenues to come in around $1,634,884. The current budget had revenues estimated at $1,686,839. Total expenditures for fiscal year 2013-2014 are expected to come in at $1,634,884.
Last year the city budgeted to expect $550,000 in revenue but is only budgeting $530,000 this year because as of July Landrum had only received $511,000 with two payments left to receive. By May of 2012, the city had received $533,000.
Martin said the city is receiving an additional $45,655 from District One Schools for a resource officer who is currently in place at Landrum High School.
About $46,054 in hospitality tax dollars will be spent to pay back the depot general obligation bond.
Council approved the first reading of the budget at its Sept. 10 meeting.
The public hearing will be conducted in the City Council chambers at 100 N. Shamrock Avenue at 6 p.m.