JAMESTOWN – City residents and business owners wanting to offer comment on the proposed 2018 city budget can do so Monday Night at city hall.
The $35.7 million spending plan includes a budget deficit of $947,000, along with a 0.88 percent property tax increase. It also slashes funding for the James Prendergast Library by $50,000 – or 50 percent.
The city charter requires the city council to present any amendments it plans to make to the budget prior to the hearing, but so far the council’s finance committee has yet to bring forward any recommended adjustments. City resident Doug Champ appeared before the council at a work session earlier this month and raised concerns with the process, saying city officials should follow the rules outlined in the charter, adding that it’s difficult for residents to comment during the public hearing when they don’t know what the final proposed budget is.
Council members will likely make and act on any budget amendments during next week’s voting session. They are required to act on a budget by Dec. 1, otherwise the mayor’s version will be the one put into use.
Monday’s public hearing begins at 6 p.m. in the council chambers of city hall and is open to the public.
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