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City budget will include PERS funds By Jessica Smith Medford will be able to pay down its debt to the Public Employees Retirement System, renovate City Hall and fix some streets next year. The Medford City Council on Thursday approved a $93.7 million budget for 2000-01 after accepting a recommendation that the city pay one-third of its PERS debt by borrowing money for the planned City Hall renovation. The recommendation increased the budget from $89.6 million, since the city will be taking out a $4.1 million loan for the City Hall project. That frees up cash-on-hand for the PERS payment and saves the city money � since interest rates for the loan are cheaper than for the pension debt, finance officials said. The spending plan � for the fiscal year beginning July 1 � also sets aside money for department operations and personnel and capital projects. Operating expenses are estimated at $9.3 million. The city expects to spend $28.25 million on personnel, including four new public works employees. The $29.1 million capital improvements budget includes the ongoing City Hall renovation, upgrades to the sewage treatment system and several street improvements. Under the adopted budget, property owners will pay an estimated $5.40 per $1,000 of assessed value in taxes. That means the owner of a $100,000 home would pay $540 a year for city services, slightly less than last year. Also Thursday, the council: Approved changes to the city ordinances governing riparian areas, or creeks and creek beds. The changes include new creek protection guidelines and a 50-foot building setback rule for future development. Existing creek-side structures are grand fathered in the ordinance. The council also amended the ordinance to provide an appeals process for the administrative rules, which typically may not be overturned by a legislative body. Approved a contract with Rogue Disposal to pick up leaf bags from residences. Residents may buy 30 bags for $1 and there is no limit on the number of bags picked up in a single visit. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA