City budget vote likely coming soon
City Administrator Herb Llewellyn said he expects McMinnville’s 2002-2003 fiscal year budget to go before the board at its next regular meeting now that the state’s budget problems are resolved.
Llewellyn and other city officials had worried about the amount of state-shared revenue McMinnville would receive due to the state’s budget crisis. City officials delayed second reading consideration on the local budget July 1, recommending it go back before the Finance Committee instead.
Officials said they feared $1 million or more of the $2.4 million in state-shared revenues would be withheld this year.
The full amount of state-shared revenues comprises about one-fourth of the city’s general fund and officials feared cuts or tax increases to make up for any lost revenues.
Responsible for preparing a budget for officials to vote on, Llewellyn said he was relieved the state’s budget crisis was over. Although officials have feared withholding of the state-shared revenues for years, this year the issue was put up for debate and a legislative vote in a small amount of time.
The issue appears to be resolved for now, however.
“Senator Cooper protected state-shared revenues. That was very important and we appreciate it, so we’re going to go on with business,” Llewellyn said of the $20.6 million budget proposal that includes major items such as Main Street revitalization, a fire truck and a capital outlay note for the new outdoor pool. The budget passed on first reading June 17.
“I don’t see any hold up on it. That will get a lot of things going for us,” he added.