By Shannon McFarlin News Director
Paris, Tenn.—The Paris City Commission set a special meeting and public hearing for 5 p.m. June 27 on a proposed tax rate increase and the proposed Fiscal Year 2020 proposed budget ordinance.
The city’s current property tax rate is $.73 per $100 of assessed value. The proposed ordinance reflects an increase to the property tax rate of $.04 cents to make the proposed property tax rate $.77 cents per $100 of assessed value, according to City Manager Kim Foster.
Foster explained, “The most significant reason for proposing a slight increase in the rate is an ongoing erosion of local option sales tax due to online purchasing. This proposed increase will minimally affect the average homeowner. For example, a property owner whose home is appraised at $100,000 will see an increase of $10 to their property tax.”
City officials conducted a budget session earlier in which the proposed Fiscal 2020 budget was discussed. The budget proposal includes a 3 percent cost of living increase for all employees; an increase in the property tax revenue reflective of the $.04 cent increase to the property tax rate; a 9.5 percent increase in the cost of healthcare premiums, an appropriation of $500,000 for asphalt, up to $100,000 from last year; $693,300 in capital purchases city-wide; eight different projects including the splash pad, sidewalks in the high school and Rhea School area, new signalization; Rison Street bridge project; ADA accessibility at Eiffel Tower Park and a few smaller projects.
The commission also approved a second and final reading on proposed adjustments to the Fiscal 2019 budget. Foster noted, “As usual, most adjustments relate to unplanned expenses and the timing of grant related projects. The overall impact to the budget is a slight decrease in both revenues and expenditures. Expenditures will decrease more than revenues leaving us in an even better position than originally planned.”
In other business:
–The commission voted 4-1 to approve a new job description which creates an enhanced position of Public Works Administrative/Facility Supervisor. Foster noted that because of the high skill level of the employee who currently is dispatcher for Public Works, Director Phillip Jessie has given him numerous additional tasks and responsibilities.
Foster said she felt Jessie’s recommendation was well deserved since the employee “has moved beyond that job position and brought a whole new level of service to that position.”
Commissioner Terry Fuller voted no because he said the new job description may not fit the next employee in that position.
–The commission approved resolutions authorizing indebtedness not to exceed $1M for the splash pad project at Eiffel Tower Park.
–The commission forwarded to the planning commission a rezoning request for the corner of West Wood and North Irvine Streets (asking it be rezoned from commercial to residential) and a request to acquire city right-of-way for the dead end at 109 Iris St.
Photo by Shannon McFarlin
