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Talent budget includes another water-bill increase By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune TALENT - For the fourth time in as many years, residents may see their water bills go up - this time to help maintain city parks and balance next year's budget. A minimum $2 monthly increase is included in the proposed $3.8 million city budget for 2002-2003. A public hearing on the budget is planned at 6:45 p.m. today at the Talent Community Center on Main Street. Talent residents' water bills increased by 5 percent in 1999, 10 percent in 2000 and 12.5 percent last February to pay for the Talent-Ashland-Phoenix water intertie project. On line since January, the project linked the city to the Medford Water Commission and a solid, clean water supply from Big Butte Springs. Betty Wheeler, the new city administrator, said the exact amount of the next increase is undetermined at this point. "There are some things that need exploring, and until we do that, I'm not willing to put a figure on the increase," she said. The 2001-2002 budget was $8.1 million, nearly $4.5 million of which went to the intertie project. Next year's budget includes $103,000 to cover maintenance of the Downtown Park, the Chuck Roberts Park, the Library Park and the city's portion of the Lynn Newbry Park. This figure is up from last year's $68,000. Wheeler suggested the City Council consider selling the Bear Creek water treatment plant, for which the city owes $100,000 but hasn't needed since TAP came on line. She also suggested leasing the city's Bear Creek water rights, also no longer needed but costing $20,000 annually. Another area in which Wheeler suggested revenue could be generated is with the upgraded water meters and billing. "It's about tightening up policies to ensure that everyone is paying their fair share," she said. One of the issues impacting the proposed budget is that residents are now purchasing water from the Medford Water Commission through the intertie, so the city no longer has surplus funds from water fees. "Historically, the water fund has contributed to a lot of other activities," Wheeler said. Also in the 2002-2003 budget, Talent police requested about $78,000 for additional staffing, vehicles and expenses, but Wheeler said the budget can accommodate only $5,000 to go toward vehicles. "The police department has asked for some increases in staffing and we really do not have the funding to finance this," she said. With the passing of Measure 50 in 1997, Talent's property tax rate remains $3.23 per $1,000 of assessed value. "There's no money to do anything," said Wheeler. "The taxes are level. All our outside fees are level. And wages and insurance have gone up." Wheeler described this year's budget as "lean and mean" with little revenue for new projects. "It's not as bright as I've ever seen, but it's not the worst budget I've ever seen," said City Councilman Don Steyskal. "When I first started (in the mid-1990s), I saw a bunch of people get laid off," he said. Wheeler, who became city administrator and recorder March 25, said she normally spends three months, not one, on a city's budget. "The preparation of the budget has been a great opportunity for me to learn about the community in a very short time," she said. After tonight's meeting, the next budget committee's public hearing is scheduled for May 22 at the Community Center. A final public hearing and adoption by City Council is scheduled for June 19. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.