Lincolnville City Council approves zero increase budget
By ROWENA PLETT
Staff writer
After a hearing Monday on the proposed 2006 budget, Lincolnville City Council adopted a resolution to accept a budget with no increase in the mill levy. It sits at 40.767 mills.
The motion passed after Mayor David Schneider broke a 2-2 tie and voted in favor of the resolution. Sylvia Bailey and Greg Hubbard voted for the resolution and Scott Gutsch and Sherri Pankratz were opposed.
The published proposed budget called for a 24.8 mill increase. Schneider said it was set that high to encourage input from residents.
"It can be lowered," he said.
Almost 15 residents showed up at the hearing. There was a lot of give-and-take between the council and townspeople.
All agreed the proposed budget was too high. Some felt a small increase was necessary to keep up with costs.
"Are we so much better off than other entities that we never have to raise the mill levy?" asked Tambra Owens.
Others noted taxes already are slated to go up with increases by the county and hospital district.
"Our income is set while our costs go up," said Betty Beneke.
One senior citizen commented his property taxes wouldn't be any higher if he lived in Wichita.
Schneider said purchase of the city building for $15,000 and an advance payment on a lease/purchase agreement had run the current budget tight, but the council has pulled in the reins and will be OK until the end of the year.
Pankratz noted a proposed street-paving project was canceled because the cost was higher than the city could afford. She said the current street budget contains enough money for maintenance.
Bailey told townspeople if the current budget is maintained, they can expect cuts in some services.
Various ways of raising revenue and cutting spending were suggested.
"If we watch what and where we're spending, we can get along on the present budget," Schneider concluded.
