Council reviews 2023 budget, showing no tax increase

ST. MARYS - St. Marys City Council released the city’s 2023 preliminary budget during their Monday evening meeting.

City of St. Marys residents will not see a tax increase in next year’s budget.

Council unanimously approved a resolution for the publication of the city’s 2023 preliminary budget. The budget is now available for public review at city hall and at the St. Marys Public Library. Council will vote on the final budget during their December meeting.

The $8.47 million budget consists of $4,232,544 for the sewage treatment fund, $2,975,000 for sewer line replacement fund, $1,261,697 for capital reserve fund-capital improvements, $859,634 for the sewer fund, $810,767 for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) fund, $569,798 for the recreation fund, $640,544 for debt fund, $400,000 for capital reserve fundstreets, roads and storm sewers, $381,420 for I&I fund, $368,117 for fire protection fund, $285,000 for capital reserve fund-bridges, $127,466 for the library fund, $110,863 for the street lighting tax fund, $68,140 for the fire hydrant fund and $21,988 for the ambulance fund.

Also unanimously approved was an ordinance providing for the levy and assessment of taxes for fiscal year 2023. Among the eight categories which taxes are levied are general revenue, paying debt service, maintaining street lights, fire apparatus housing, fire hydrant maintenance, maintaining the library, ambulance service and parks and recreation programs and facilities.

City council is expected to vote on final approval of the budget during next month’s meeting taking place December 19 at 7 p.m. at city hall.

No decisions were made regarding personnel matters during an executive session held prior to Monday evening’s meeting.