Albertville Residents Will See Slight Increase from City

Albertville residents can expect a slight increase in their local taxes for 2012 as the council unanimously approved a tax levy of 1.49 percent, with the general levy totaling $3.1 million.

The average $200,000 Albertville home would see a $13 increase over 2010, for a bill totaling $851.

Early preliminary budget discussions were dominated by the prposed Cost of Living Allowance [COLA] and staffing.  Monday, August 29, the council held their final budget workshop and ran through various scenarios, and settled on a slight pay increase for city staff, which increases the levy for 2012.

Options included:

1. No changes, meaning the staff wages would stay frozen with no steps, COLA or increases in hours.
2. 2.4 percent COLA, steps and increasing the City Clerk, Building Official and Technician by 10 percent for a total of a 1.5 percent increase in the levy.
3. 2.4 percent COLA, steps and increasing the City Clerk and Building Official to full time and Technician by 10 percent, for a 2.5 percent increase in the levy.
4. 2.4 percent COLA, steps and increasing the City Clerk, Building Official and Technician by 10 percent plus adding $50,000 equals a 3 percent increase in the levy. [$30,000 to $50,000 for the trail, $10,000 to $50,000 for Economic Development,  Additional staffing,  Increase General Fund Reserves, Any combination of the above or reduction in final levy.]
5. No changes, meaning the staff wages would stay frozen with no steps, COLA or increases in hours plus decreasing capital reserves by 10 percent across the board equals a minus 1.25 percent levy decrease from 2011.

City Clerk Bridget Miller shared that “the majority of members voted on Scenario Two, which is the current budget with a 2.4 percent COLA, steps and increasing the City Clerk, Building Official, and Permit Technician by 10 percent equals a 1.5 percent increase in the 2012 levy.”

The council approved it preliminary levy at its regular meeting Monday, Sept. 12. By law, that levy can decrease, but cannot go up. Future budget discussion are planned before final approval in December.