Roswell budget would trim property taxes
Roswell residents could see the lowest property tax rate in seven years if a proposed 2012 city budget passes muster this month.
The spending plan, prepared by Mayor Jere Wood and city staff, calls for lowering the property tax rate by .11 mills, a savings of $12.06 on a $280,000 home.
Coupled with reduced property value assessments, the average Roswell homeowner would pay $42 less in city taxes this year if the budget is approved, the city estimates.
City Council members and residents will weigh in on the proposal at 7 p.m. Monday at the first of two public hearings at City Hall.
As proposed, the budget calls for $99 million in overall spending. The city's operating budget, the money used to run the city and pay employees, accounts for $56 million in expenditures.
The city is projecting a $760,000 revenue increase for 2012 despite the fall in property values and the tax redcution. Combined with 953,000 in midyear savings from early retirement, the city finds itself with $1.7 million more available to spend in 2012 than in 2011. Of this, $977,000 is budgeted to cover rising costs, including gasoline, electricity, public safety and elections.
Wood is proposing two new initiatives, $30,000 to televise City Council meetings and $25,000 for legal fees to opt out of federal review of city elections.
Residents will see a 4.4 percent fee increase for recreation programs to cover part of the costs, under Wood's proposal.
The budget also leaves $571,000 in unspent funds. Wood is asking the council and public to consider rasing employee compensation, adding a deputy police chief and repaving streets with that money.
