`No new taxes included in city budget for 2000`

Hermitage commissioners Wednesday adopted a city budget for 2000 that sets general fund spending at $8.3 million with no tax increase.

The budget, which is $71,571 lower than this year’s, holds the tax line at 15 mills. A mill is $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value; assessments are one-third of a property’s 1970 market value. At 15 mills, the owner of a home assessed at $20,000 would have a tax bill of $300.

City commissioners Sylvia Stull, Pat White and Board President Dr. Coupland commended the city staff for keeping their budgets down.

The 2000 budget includes money left over from the year before. City Manager Gary Hinkson said this also was the first year the city made a payment on a $6.3 million bond issue for renovations and improvements to the city building, garage and two fire stations.

The Y2K budget includes increases in salaries, utilities and general operating expenses. Hinkson said $45,045 will be spent to cover a 4 percent raise, effective Jan. 1, for the city’s 28-member police department under the contract with Local 82 of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Another $44,085 will be used to pay for a 3 percent raise for clerks and street workers in union Local 2778 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Other highlights of the budget adopted Wednesday are: capital reserve fund of $347,200; construction fund of $1.6 million; $303,510 highway aid fund; $193,800 Shenango Valley Shuttle Service Maintenance Fund; and $382,020 for Vested Sick Leave Reserve.

The sanitary sewer system budget has been set at $3,057,577 with sewer rental fees for residential customers remaining at the same rate.

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