ELLINWOOD — The Ellinwood City Council met at a special meeting on Tuesday to discuss the proposed mill levy assessment for 2015. The council approved the budget for publication.
The proposed mill levy for 2015 is 39.456 mills. The mill levy has remained steady for the community since 2007 when the mill levy was 39.932. In 2014, there was a slight decrease to 37.873.
City Administrator Robert Peter reported that the estimated valuation for 2015 is $8,767,488, including personal property and real estate. The real estate valuation is higher, but the personal property valuation is substantially less due to the state of Kansas reclassifying boats and commercial vehicles.
In his summary, Peter said expenditures with the flood study and remediation will be out of ordinary expenses for the year.
The city is also considering ongoing maintenance expenses such as a new police vehicle, police weapons, manhole rehabilitation, street sealing, and curb and gutter work. The older of the two ambulances is from 1996, and continues to have repair issues. Peter said that they need to start planning for the purchase of a new one.
In the proposed budget, Peter included the possibility of an increase in the electric meter charge. The current charge is $4.50 and the council will review it at the end of the year to see if it needs to be changed.
In good news, Peter reported that sales tax revenue has recovered to pre-recession amounts and have been higher in the last two years.
Due to a mild 2014 summer he anticipates water and electric revenues to be down from the last two years.
The city has budgeted for a 3 percent pay increase for employees. The council will review this increase later this year and can approve the 3 percent or no increase at all.
Although Ellinwood approved a new recreation commission, which has its own budget authority, the city still retains responsibility for infrastructure, fields and the swimming pool.
In addition, Peter and members of the city council thought that After Harvest Festival went well.