City manager says Gainesville will need millage roll-up

GAINESVILLE - Gainesville City Council members got their first look at the budget for FY 2013 Thursday morning, and City Manager Kip Padgett said the council will need to approve a millage roll-up to make ends meet in the coming year.

Padgett presented a general budget plan that totals $27.9 million, which represents a 2-percent increase over last year's spending plan.

While the increase is minimal, Padgett noted that revenue collections from property taxes are down, and he told council that's why a millage roll-up would be needed to at least keep tax revenues flat in the next year.

"It's simple math," said Padgett. "The assessed value times the millage rate equals the revenue...the tax revenue we need...and we want this to remain neutral, flat, just like it was last year."

He said that legally a roll-up is not the same as a tax increase, since the revenue collection will be neutral.

The proposed budget does include a 3-percent cost of living increase for city employees, which would become effective October 1, 2012. In addition, city employees would see a reduction in medical deductibles to $1,500.

A final budget will be approved in June after public hearings are held on June 5 and June 19.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2012/5/248470