Dec 28, 2016 2 min read

Washington City Council will hold a special meeting at 3 p.m. today to discuss possible changes to the adopted 2017 budget.

“We just need to make sure all the council is aware of the potential for (reassessment) appeals and possible tax consequences,” Mayor Scott Putnam said Wednesday.

The final budget was unanimously approved Dec. 8, with revenues and expenditures of $13,402,696. If council keeps the current budget, real estate taxes would generate $4.9 million, with an unchanged real estate tax of 32.71 mills, and a building-only tax of 1.59 mills.

But Putnam, who days after the budget passed said there could be a need for an amendment, is concerned about a decline in revenue resulting from real estate property assessment appeals.

Commercial and residential assessment appeals are ongoing and could take months to decide.

“There are a whole host of buildings throughout the city that are appealing,” Putnam said.

Among them are The George Washington hotel at 60 S. Main St. and Washington Trust Building at 6 S. Main St.

The last millage rate increase in the city was in 2010, when the land real estate tax was raised by 7 mills. In 2009, taxes were increased by 18 mills. The year before, they were increased by 30 mills. At the time, city officials were digging out of a nearly $2 million deficit.

If council would decide to raise taxes or alter the approved budget, the amended budget would have to be advertised for 10 days before formal action could be taken.

An agenda meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Jan. 9, and a council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 12 in city hall.