Published: June 09, 2009 12:08 am      

Russell sets preliminary budget

Property taxes not expected to rise

RUSSELL — The Russell council gave its preliminary approval Monday to a $3.88 million budget.

The budget will be revised before the council adopts it but as it now stands, the city will be spending about $384,000 more in the upcoming year.

The spending plan projects $3.8 million in total revenues, which would be $280,000 more than it received last year.

The city is spending more largely because it has several large projects in the works, clerk Joy Conley said. Among them are a half-million-gallon water tank, sidewalks and a storage building.

Much of the cost of those projects will be covered through grants, she said.

Conley’s figures show the city has brought in close to $1.25 million in property and personal taxes so far in the fiscal year ending this month. That is about what the budget projects for the upcoming fiscal year.

The figure also is higher than the $1.14 million the city received the previous year. That is because the council raised the rate, Conley said. No hike in the property tax rate is expected this year, she said.

The city has a little more to spend this year in part because it has paid down most of its debt, Mayor William Hopkins said. That includes the water plant, which is now paid off, freeing up about $100,000 for other purposes, he said.

Russell employees can expect a 3.2 percent raise in the coming year, considerably more than the 1 percent the Kentucky League of Cities recommended for municipalities this year.

The water tank project is on Bear Run and is replacing one that is several decades old. The city has $350,000 in grant money to help it with the $650,000 cost.

The storage building will provide space for records, Christmas decorations and other items, Hopkins said. He estimated it would cost about $100,000 to build.

The city hopes to build sidewalks in the Seaton Drive area leading to Russell High School to provide a safe route for walking to school. A $250,000 grant and $150,000 in city money would pay for it, Hopkins said.

Also close to fruition is the Russell Heights sewer project that would service an area now dependent on aging and undependable septic systems. The city has $320,000 in grant money to help with the total price tag of up to $700,000, Hopkins said.

MIKE JAMES can be reached at mjames@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2652.