Three things to know about Germantown’s proposed budget
Germantown held the first of three hearings Monday for its proposed 2023 fiscal year budget.
Germantown’s proposed $201.2 million budget will run from July 2022June 2023. The city’s $63 million general fund operating budget for 2023 is a $3 million increase from 2022.
The second hearing and first public hearing will be June 13.
Here are three things to know about Germantown’s FY23 budget.
No property tax increase
Germantown residents will see a slight decrease in their property tax rate, said Adrienne Royals, city financial services director.
The rate will change from $1.678 per $100 of assessed value to $1.6732.
This is the second decrease in two budget seasons, as the rate in 2022 dropped to $1.678 from $1.95 after Shelby County completed a reappraisal of properties.
The tax rate has not increased in six years.
Bulking up public safety
The Germantown Police Department and fire department will receive funds in the budget to bulk up personnel and citizen safety.
The city set aside about $183,000 for police to implement a body camera program, a first for the department.
“We’ve taken a handful of years to be able to really do our due diligence and research on what would be the best option for our department,” City Administrator Jason Huisman said.
The fire department will also receive funding to implement ballistic gear as a means to protect firefighters from potential threat.
Infrastructure work
The budget sets aside money for infrastructure work on drainage ditches, including Duntreath and Miller Farms Ditches, and major roads including Farmington and Wolf River boulevards.
“There is a significant amount of investment that’s being made in our infrastructure and our public safety and our parks and paving,” Huisman said.
He said the city will use the bulk of the second half of the $11.6 million American Rescue Plan funding for drainage repair, construction of a water tower on the east side of the city and automated water reader meters.
Huisman added the two major drainage investments the city will focus on are Duntreath and Miller Farms ditches. He said Miller Farms will receive $7.6 million in repairs and Duntreath needs $3.5 million.
Germantown will also invest about $2.5 million into about 15 miles of road repairs. Huisman said the streets will be chosen later.
Park maintenance will also receive about a 30% increase in funding for sod replacement, park benches and landscaping, Royals said.
The general fund allocates about $1.6 million for parks and recreation, about $1 million more than 2022.
Dima Amro covers the suburbs for The Commercial Appeal and can be reached at Dima.amro@commercialappeal.com or on Twitter @Amrodima.