City officials ponder larger tax increase
During a recent Finance Committee meeting, McMinnville officials discussed adding 3 cents to the already 7-cent tax increase placed in the 2007-2008 budget.
The increase would fund the $50,000 needed for preliminary work of phase two of the Downtown Economic Revitalization Project. While discussing the proposal, they also heard about the return of EG&G.
That’s right. Despite the city’s decision to go with James C. Hailey and Company over EG&G several months ago, the project can’t be given to Hailey because there is federal money involved. Because of this, the project must be bid out and proposals taken.
Along with EG&G’s original proposal submission, James C. Hailey and Hart Freeland Roberts, Inc., out of Nashville have also made requests to be considered for the project.
As explained to officials by city administrator David Rutherford, who has been looking into the phase two project, until the preliminary work is complete it is impossible to know the scope of the work and what firms should be bidding on when the time comes.
Once the preliminary work is complete, the city will know exactly what needs to be done and these firms can submit their cost figures to the city. Or, if necessary, the city can approach the firms with exactly how much funding is available and the firms can make an offer as to what they can accomplish.
Although the Finance Committee seemed to agree on the preliminary part of the project being necessary, they stopped short when it came a 3-cent tax increase for funding.
‘I think there is a way to do that (preliminary work) and still hold the budget at 7 cents,’ said Alderman Patti Nunley after the meeting. ‘I think there is 3 cents in there we can find. There is always room in every budget. I’m going to make a recommendation during the next committee meeting but we’ll have to see how that goes.’
The committee will be meeting at McMinnville City Hall at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow to discuss the preliminary work, possible funding, and the three firms who have asked to be considered.