DEXTER — The Town Council on Thursday will consider ways to cut the proposed 1998-99 municipal budget.
The workshop will begin at 7 p.m. in the council chambers.
A proposed budget of $3,798,879, which will be reduced by applying $1.1 million in revenues, was presented to the council last month by Town Manager Robert Simpson. Simpson said earlier that each department head was asked to submit an ideal budget, and these budgets were then pared to about 80 percent of what was requested.
In its original form, the proposed budget reflects a 6.5 percent increase over the current spending plan, which some council members believe is too hefty an increase.
Thursday’s budget workshop will focus on a possible cut in the police COPS MORE support fund, which is reserve money used to support a federal grant. The fund, established in 1995, has $9,576, all of which could be used to reduce the property tax commitment, according to the town manager.
The council, Simpson said, will consider placing a $10,000 cap on annual contributions made to social service agencies.
Also on Thursday, the council will discuss reducing the Kiwanis Club’s requests to support Dexterfest by $1,500 and their Elm Tree project by $1,500.
The elimination of a $3,000 request from the municipal golf course for maintenance and possible reductions in other departments also will be on the agenda.
“If all goes as planned, they [the town councilors] should be able to reduce proposed increases to below $100,000,” Simpson said Monday. He said those reductions along with some changes in the revenue side will help minimize any mill rate increase. The current mill rate is $21 per $1,000 valuation.
The Town Council will adopt a budget July 9.
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