Each year the Abilene City Staff prepares a proposed budget that is submitted for approval to the City Commission. As part of the approval process a public hearing is held to provide for public input into the proposed budget. After approval, the budget is certified to the Dickinson County Clerk.

This is the sixth year that City staff has prepared the Budget Brief to help inform the citizens of Abilene about the variety of services offered by the city and the corresponding revenues and expenditures that are proposed for the departments that provide those services.

The budget process included input from the individual department heads in meetings with the City Commission to discuss service levels and specific capital improvement needs that are addressed in the Five Year Capital Improvement Plan which is included with the budget brief. This process also included requests and presentations from outside agencies for City funding.

The proposed budget includes wage increases that an employee can receive based on their performance evaluation. An additional amount has been budgeted for employees who may receive promotions next year.

Other increases reflected in the budget include utility increases in natural gas and electric, as well as fuel costs for vehicles and equipment.

As in the past the following City Commission goals were achieved during the budget process:

1. Continue present level of City Services
2. Keep any required property tax increases to minimum level.
3. Reduce annual budget expenditures wherever possible and balance them with revenues.

The proposed expenditures for the FY 2010 Budget are $16,630,730. Increases in costs for capital improvements for projects and equipment next year, as well as increases in overall operating costs are reflected in the Budget. One major increase is inclusion of 5.000 mills for street improvement projects with the first project identified being improvement of E 1st Street. The proposed FY 2010 budget includes an increase in the amount of property tax required, which is $1,734,615 compared to $1,442,877 for FY 2009. This equates in an estimated mill levy of 33.024 for FY 2010 which is up by 6.263 mills from the 26.761 mills in FY 2009. The assessed valuation is down from $53,916,140 in FY 2008 to $52,527,166 for FY 2009

This proposed FY 2010 Budget reflects the commitment of the City Commission and City Staff to work towards common goals in providing necessary services to the citizens of the City of Abilene.

2010 Budget Brief

Please Sign Our Guestbook!