No tax increases are proposed in the fiscal year 2027 budget for the city of Buena Vista that is being advertised in today’s newspaper, though there are some planned fee hikes. A public hearing on the proposed budget has been set for next Thursday, May 7, with adoption scheduled for two weeks later, on Thursday, May 21.
City Council’s budget and finance committee finalized the proposed budget Monday, completing the work of closing what had been a gap of $1.9 million in mid-March between planned expenditures and projected revenues. A state budget has not yet been adopted so that projected state funding for the schools is based on the latest best available information.
Under the proposed budget being advertised, the real estate tax rate would remain at 98 cents per $100 of assessed value and the personal property tax rate would stay at $5.85. A tax on cigarettes, instituted at a rate of 25 cents per pack on Jan. 1 of this year, is to be retained at this rate in the new fiscal year. City employees are slated to receive cost-of-living raises of 3 percent.
Waste collection and disposal fees for residential customers would rise by $2 per month, from $23 to $25, and commercial rates are to rise by $4 per week, from $38.37 to $42.37 for once per week pickup, from $76.74 to $80.74 for twice-weekly pickup, from $115 to $119.11 for three times per week pickup, from $149.48 to $153.58 for four times per week pickup, and $186.85 to $190.85 for five times per week pickup.
Water usage rates are to remain at $8.58 per 1,000 gallons while sewer rates are to climb from $10.04 to $11.04 per 1,000 gallons. Water and sewer connection fees are to remain at $1,500 each, though water and sewer system development fees may rise based on the size of the meters.
Camping fees at Glen Maury Park are proposed to rise as follows – $40 to $55 per night for tents with no hookups, $50 to $70 per night for water and electric hookups (no sewer) and $60 to $80 per night for water, electric and sewer hookups. Monthly camping rates are to go up from $500 to $680. Passport America membership rates are to remain at $20 per night, with seniors (age 62 and above) receiving a $1 discount.
Daily admission rates at the swimming pool are to rise by $1, from 5 to $6 for ages 13 and above, and from $4 to $5 for ages 4-12. Season pass pool fees are to rise as follows – $100 to $125 for one person; $200 to $300 for family of between two and four people; and $35 to $50 for each additional person above four. Pool party rates are to be as follows: 1-20 people, $180; 21-40, $225; 41-60, $270; 61-80, $310; 81-100, $350; 101-120, $390; 121-140, $430; 141160, $470; 161-180, $510; 181-200, $550.
Dog license fees have been raised to a flat $10 fee. The current rates are $8 for dogs that haven’t been spayed or neutered and $4 for those that have.
As for how the rather substantial gap between planned expenditures and projected revenues was eliminated, several savings measures were undertaken. Proposed new positions in human resources and community development were eliminated. The police department is not filling a couple of vacancies it currently has. Portions of funding for several administrative positions were reallocated from the general fund to the city’s other major funds.
The local appropriation for the schools is to go up by $264,553 due to a change in the city’s composite index and to make up for a shortfall from the current budget.
