Millwood looks at 2015 budget

The city of Millwood’s budget for 2015 features an excess in all funds for the second consecutive year.

The City Council has also voted to raise property taxes by the state-allowed 1 percent – an increase of about $12,277 – and asked city staff to draft new sewer rates, which would reduce charges slightly to residential customers.

Next year’s budget largely echoes this year’s, except for the $373,000 itemized list of capital expenditures. Among the plans for 2015:

• $100,000 for the Buckeye Avenue paving project;

• About $150,000 to paint the city’s water tower; and

• Upgrades to the park to improve access and parking.

Another capital project the city hopes to undertake is upgrading some of the heating, venting and air conditioning systems, said City Public Works Director Paul Allen. McKinstry had worked with the city to develop a plan for this year, but that fell apart when the city failed to win a grant to help cover the costs.

“We’re going to take their plan, chop it up and see what we can do,” Allen said.

The council will take comment on the budget at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall.

At the Dec. 9 meeting, the council will consider the new sewer rates.

The new charges will be less for residential customers in large part because the city is paying off its $1.73 million water and sewer revenue bond.

It will change the way customers are charged, starting with a $12.53 base rate, plus charges for treatment and a depreciation charge to create a fund to pay for future repairs and replacement. The estimated monthly charge for residential customers would be $31.57, a 12 percent savings from current rates.

The council chose to go with a 50 percent depreciation rate, rather than 75 or 100 percent, giving rate payers a larger monthly savings.

The new rate structure will increase rates for large commercial customers, as it will increase the charge for water used over the 800 cubic feet base. High water users will pay $2.14 each addition 100 cubic feet of water; the current rate is $1.44.