Johnston Council Continues Discussion on 2013 Fiscal Budget

One empty staff position is likely to be eliminated and the city could delay hiring three firefighters until the fall to help lessen the amount of a tax increase in Johnston.

During a budget work session on Monday, the  discussed 10 areas that could be adjusted to reduce the city budget by $539,561 and reach the goal of a $11.30 property tax levy.

Are there any areas in the city's budget you could stand to see trimmed?

The city's current property tax rate is $11.09 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

An increase was expected after residents passed a for a new public safety building and fire station annex. The referendum was passed on the basis that the debt levy tax would not be raised more than 42 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

However, the council found that several of those items were necessary to maintain the quality of life for residents in Johnston.

Items that were proposed for trimming included:

• Eliminating a vacant communication specialist position - $92,000
• Delay the hiring of three firefighters for the until Oct. 1 - $48,366.
• Move traffic control and safety funds to the road use tax - $53,500
• Only pay the administrative fee for the West Help Program - $20,000
• Reduce funding for the capital equipment program by $167,000
• Reduce staff training and consulting for parks by $1,500.

"The city staff has done an amazing job coming to us with what they thought they could afford to cut," said Councilman David Lindeman.

Items the council decided not to trim included:

• Reduce library hours by four hours each week - $41,000
• Eliminate summer parks staff - $38,000
• Eliminate EMS training for two firefighters - $16,000
• Discontinue spraying for mosquitos - $16,000

The council also asked staff to find a way to hire an additional officer for the , so the station could be staffed by three officers in the evening. The council also asked to fund the with $10,000.

"The quality of life in Johnston was a priority," Lindeman said. "That meant the three firefighters and making sure that we could get away from two officers at night, maintaining parks, roads and the library."

At the end of the night, the council was back to a property tax levy of $11.50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, said City Administrator Jim Sanders.

City officials will go back to find an additional $200,000 to reach the goal of an $11.30 property tax rate.

"We've come a long way," Lindeman said. "There's a belief there is more that could go. I'm not skeptical that we can get down there, but we will be in a better position than we were going in."

A rate of $11.30 would reflect on average an increase of about $28.76 for the average Johnston resident.

"We'll keep looking, then we will talk about that on Feb. 6," Sanders said. "This is very preliminary, the council is working through the budget."

On Jan. 17, the of $11.58 per $1,000 in assessed valuation. That number reflected a continuance in the current city budget.

The council will review the budget again during a work session at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 6.