Shepherd council approves budget, tax rate

By Tony Farkas
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SHEPHERD — The Shepherd City Council passed a business-as-usual budget that lowers the tax rate but raises fees for city services.

City Secretary Debra Hagler said the council approved a tax rate 0.16442 per $100 of property valuation, which will bring in no new revenue, at its regular meeting on Sept. 11. That rate is lower than last year’s rate of 0.17674 per $100.

Hagler said the city did approve, as part of the budget, an increase in water and sewer rates to take effect in November. An increase of $3.50 will be on base rates for sewer and water bills; also, tap fees have been raised from $600 per tap to $700 for water service and $750 for sewer service.

The council said customers will be notified of the increases as well.

The council approved the FY 2023-24 budget with expected general fund revenues and expenditures at $640,000.

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Also, the utility fund budget was approved, with projected revenues at $1,033,300 and expenditures at $998,736; and the Economic Development Council budget was approved with expected revenues at $124,000 and expenses at $119,000.

In other business, the council:

•discussed the balance on taxes owed by Z Executive Inn and Suites, which has been paid in full;

•declared all candidates for the upcoming city election unopposed and cancelled the election, which will save about $13,000;

•appointed reserve officer Tammy Nave as assistant chief of police. Hagler said it’s a volunteer position; and

•approved the auction of surplus items.