Rocky Top holds tax rate at $2
The Rocky Top City Council gave final approval Thursday (June 17) to a $2.48 million spending plan for fiscal year 2021-22, funded primarily by a property tax rate of $2 per $100 of assessed value.
That’s down from a budget of nearly $2.77 million during the 2020-21 budget year, which ends June 30. But the property tax rate holds steady with no change from the current year.
The planned appropriations for the new budget year include $1.65 million for general government operations, $798,733 for public safety, and $32,665 for “other expenses.”
The general-fund budget does not include water and sewer operations, which are separate. Water and Sewer Fund expenditures, funded by ratepayers, are projected to be $1.79 million for the new fiscal year, and no water or sewer rate increases are planned.
A public hearing on the new budget just prior to the 6 p.m. council meeting brought no comments from the public, and the council later approved the budget ordinance on second and final reading by a unanimous vote.
“Our revenue has been better than expected,” Foster told the council when the budget came up for initial approval in May. “We feel good about this. There is no tax increase and no rate increases.”
In other business:
• The council passed on first reading a proposed amendment to the city’s zoning ordinance to add a section regulating lighting for new development, with the goal of preventing “light pollution and hazards from poor lighting.” A public hearing on the amended ordinance will be held at 5:45 p.m. July 15, just prior to the 6 p.m. council meeting.
“We didn’t have anything in our zoning dealing with lighting,” Foster said. “I don’t think it’s going to be an issue, but some residents have complained about bright lights.”
The change would apply only to new development after the ordinance is approved, he said.
Foster also said, in answer to a council member’s question, that the ordinance would not regulate holiday light displays.
• Council members were reminded that the city’s Independence Day fireworks show will return this year after being canceled last year during the coronavirus pandemic. The fireworks display will begin somewhere from 9:45 to 10 p.m. on Friday, July 2, to kick off the Independence Day weekend.
• The city’s new fire pumper truck, delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, should be delivered to Rocky Top by the end of this month, Foster said.