No tax increase expected in city
Washington City Council will unveil a preliminary budget for next year at Thursday’s meeting that will not include a tax increase.
The 2014 preliminary spending plan is $12,815,655.
“We’re trying to tow the line on expenses,” said Mayor Brenda Davis. “Any time we can balance the budget through the first reading is pretty exciting.”
Davis said the city has experienced substantial increases in worker’s compensation costs and insurance coverage, but has kept departmental expenses about the same.
The majority of the city’s expenditures are on health care costs and employee benefits, which cost about $1.2 million annually.