New Norris budget holds tax rate at $1.54
Following a public hearing Monday night, the Norris City Council approved the new city budget, with projected expenditures of $2.36 million, for fiscal year 2023-24 with no increase in property taxes.
There also will be no increases in water or sewer rates, at least for now. But residents will see a $1 monthly increase in the trash pickup fee, bringing it to $17. That charge is added to residents’ water bills.
Last year, Norris water and customers saw steep raises in their bills – 25 percent for sewer service and 10 percent for water -- in the 2022-23 budget, part of which was to help pay for employee salary increases and state-mandated improvements in the sewer system.
Just like last year, the new budget holds the Norris property tax rate at $1.5439 per $100 of assessed value.
For the new year, general fund revenue is expected to total $1,871,309. Basic expenses are set at $1,716,433, and capital expenditures at $638,400 (excluding water and sewer). Total expenses (except water and sewer) are expected to be $2,363,671.
Water and sewer fund revenue is projected to be $1,899,743, with operating expenses of $1,029,755 and capital expenses of $928,140.
Other budget categories include:
State Street Aid Fund: Revenue, $55,900; capital expenses, $150,000.
Watershed Fund: Revenue, $91,820; capital expenses, $36,500; operations and maintenance expenses, $85,908.
Solid Waste Fund: Revenue, $157,572; capital expenses, none; operations and maintenance, $155,500.
Norris currently has no debt, either in the general fund or in the Water and Sewer Commission, which has a separate budget. But that could change soon. Funding of the upgrades in the sewer system are expected to come from grants and new debt, which would be paid for by sewer rates charged to customers.
Under state law, the city cannot use property taxes or water rate increases to pay for sewer services.