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$99.7 million will buy variety Medford council adopts budget By JIM DAVIS A little money for roads. A little money for economic growth. And a little money for fun. The Medford budget for 1999-2000 is nothing if not diverse, setting aside money for one of the largest road projects in the city's history, a new economic development employee and a skateboard park. The Medford City Council voted 7-0 to adopt the budget Thursday night. Under the budget, Medford property owners would pay $5.41 per $1,000 of assessed value under the city's proposed 1999-2000 budget. For example, the owner of a property assessed at $100,000 would pay $541 for all of the city's services. The rate is a penny less than the year before. The city staff came up with their suggested budget and it was reviewed by the city's budget committee -- including the City Council -- during four meetings earlier this spring. Several large capital projects were proposed by the staff and approved. Those include a $1.5 million renovation of City Hall, $500,000 set aside for a police impound lot and $5.1 million for the McAndrews Road project, the city's portion of a 1.8-mile extension from Brookdale Avenue to East McAndrews Road in the Oregon Hills subdivision. It also includes a $2.1 million fire station at North Phoenix and Barnett roads and $64,000 to renovate the council chambers. The city is also adding a total of 10 new jobs, including $105,000 set aside for an economic development division, an employee to attract new businesses and jobs into the city. The city's budget committee made few changes to the proposed budget. One change was raiding a $3.9 million fund for new equipment -- which was set up last year -- and shifting that money into a fund for streets. Another change was funding a skateboard park to be built this summer in Bear Creek Park. A Medford man and several teenagers came before the City Council and thanked them for the park. The total budget is $99.7 million -- or an increase of $17.2 million more than last year's $82.5 million. The increase comes mainly from unspent contingency funds, which is money held in reserve, Faw said. Councilman Bill Moore, however, said about half of the city's $21 million contingency fund is pegged for either future projects or debts. Also, the city budget is based on the assumption that property values will increase 3 percent for the coming year. Assessors estimate the city's total assessed value of $3.2 billion will grow $230 million in the coming year, from expected commercial and residential projects. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA