By Mark Wineka
Salisbury Post
Salisbury citizens will have a chance to comment Tuesday on the city’s proposed $63.8 million budget for the 2008-2009 fiscal year.
Salisbury City Council meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 217 S. Main St.
City Manager David Treme’s proposal calls for Salisbury’s property taxes to stay at 59 cents per $100 valuation.
But the average residential water-sewer bill would increase by 9.7 percent a month, from $62.38 to $68.43. The operations of Salisbury-Rowan Utilities account for more than $22.2 million in the total budget.
Other fees and charges also would go up in the budget proposal.
They include city bus fares; landfill, recycling and front-end collection fees; and the cost of burials in city cemeteries.
The budget calls for three new positions financed by the city’s general fund: a radio technician, cemetery equipment operator and automotive service technician.
Salisbury-Rowan Utilities also would add three positions: a pre-treatment coordinator, hydrant and valve supervisor and utility locator-inspector.
City employees would receive a 3 percent merit-pay increase.
The council expects to have its first budget work session at noon May 27 at City Hall. A new budget has to be adopted by June 30.
In other agenda items Tuesday, the council will:
– Hold a public hearing and consider a resolution connected to state legislation for a room occupancy tax for the city.
– Consider accepting the driveway from Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue to HBD Industries as a public street.
– Consider authorizing Treme to execute a cable television pole attachment agreement with Duke Energy.
– Consider awarding a $561,700 contract to Pease & Associates for engineering services related to extending water and sewer lines into annexation areas.
– Recognize Sgt. Andy Efird, Sgt. Brian Stallings, Lt. Greg Beam and Lt. Karen Barbee for their recent promotions in the Police Department.
– Recognize retiring Police Officer Gary Mills and authorize issuing his badge and sidearm to him.
Council meetings are streamed live at www.salisburync.gov/council/webcast.html and shown later on Time Warner Cable’s ACCESS 16.
Contact Mark Wineka at 704-797-4263 or mwineka@salisburypost.com.