From the Northwest Indiana Times:
The city's proposed 2013 budget and expected $2 million in cuts is a near repeat of last year's process, Clerk-Treasurer Deborah Longer said.
"We are at the same place we were last year," Longer said.
The proposed general fund budget, given initial approval by the City Council, is $18.2 million.
"Our actual approved budget will likely be around $16 million because we know it's going to be cut by the state," Longer said.
A public hearing for the proposed budget is set for 6 p.m. Sept. 19 with a full vote Oct. 17.
The certified 2012 general fund budget was $16.1 million, Longer said.
The city's proposed 2013 tax rate also is advertised higher, at $2.13 per $100 of assessed value, and Longer suspects it will be reduced by roughly half.
The current property tax rate is $1.09 per $100, and that is close to what it will be next year, Longer said.
Although the proposed budget has a factored-in 2 percent raise next year for elected officials and most department heads, it's uncertain whether city employees will receive that same increase.
"The increase for city employees will depend on whether we receive our excess levy appeal and a lot of other things," Longer said.
The council did approve a 2 percent raise for city employees next year, pending sufficient funding.
"We want to keep the option open," Longer said.
http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/lake/hobart/hobart-s-city-budget-expected-to-be-a-near-repeat/article_0ac4ac30-e85e-5944-8cbd-34cf5051e662.html
