It was a short agenda, but a long meeting for Washington’s City Council, Monday night, as the Council heard the first reading of the three proposed ordinances setting the City’s 2021 budget. Mayor Rhoads said that the new budget would give the City’s employees a three percent raise next year. The Council did make one change in the salary ordinance and equalized the stand-by pay for all employees. The Council will vote on the budget ordinances at its next meeting.
The Council also heard a proposal to change the way the City’s budget is organized. Washington Mayor Dave Roads explains.
The representatives for Reedy Financial of Seymour told the Council that Washington is in a better financial position than most Hoosier cities due to wise management in the past, however, they also said Washington is faced with loosing 29% of its tax levy to tax caps. They proposed separating capital expenditures from operating funds, which would allow some financial flexibility in dealing with potential economic development projects.
At the end of the meeting Mayor Rhoads reported on the progress of the Old U.S. 50 project.
The Mayor and Street Commissioner Bryan Sergesketter also said that this years street repaving projects will get under way in mid-September.
In other business, Councilman Darin Lunsford asked about the proposal suggested by Michael Allen which would require unattached garages and sheds to mirror the architecture and exterior coverings of the main building on the property. The general consensus of the Council members was that the restrictions were not needed at this time. The next Council meeting is scheduled for September 14.
