Nov 4, 2023 By Paul Paterra staff Writer ppaterra@observer-Reporter.Com 2 min read

A preliminary budget of slightly more than $15 million is in place in the city of Washington, and it does not include a tax increase.

On Thursday, council unanimously passed resolutions concerning adoption of a preliminary budget, levying the tax rates and establishing salaries.

The proposed budget sets millage at 38.71 mills for land and 4.03 mills for buildings. Those figures have been in place since 2019.

“Working with the staff and the department heads and the elected officials to come up with a balanced budget with no tax increase every year since 2019 has been remarkable,” said Mayor Scott Putnam on Friday.

Taxes are expected to generate 69% of anticipated revenue. Departmental costs cover more than half of the anticipated expenditures. The anticipated cost for police protection is $2.77 million, and fire protection is expected to cost $1.875 million.

Council also unanimously approved a resolution setting the annual garbage fee for 2024 at $300 per dwelling unit, up from the $243 rate that has been in place since 2013. Increases of about 2% or 3% are expected during each of the remaining four years of the five-year pact with Big’s Sanitation approved in October.

There also will be a late fee of $30 if the $300 rate is not paid by a due date, which has yet to be determined.

The new contract takes effect in January.