(June 11, 2015) The Berlin Council unanimously approved the fiscal year 2016 budget at its Monday night meeting.
The $17.2 million budget represented a 12 percent increase over the previous year’s spending package.
Despite the rise, Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said property taxes would hold steady, and residents would not face increases in stormwater, wastewater or utility fees.
The electric fund decreased by three percent under the new budget, while water, sewer and stormwater funds all rose. Stormwater spending, up 69 percent, was largely tied to grants from the Department of Natural Resources, Housing and Urban Development and FEMA.
“I believe the overall goal of the fiscal ‘16 proposed town budget enables the town of Berlin to maintain a financially stable [budget] … with continued incremental improvements in municipal services, while allowing the town to continue to invest in infrastructure and property to provide permanent benefits to the community in the future,” Williams said.
A public hearing was opened and closed without comment and Councilmember Troy Purnell made the formal motion to approve the budget.
The $17.2 million budget represented a 12 percent increase over the previous year’s spending package.
Despite the rise, Berlin Mayor Gee Williams said property taxes would hold steady, and residents would not face increases in stormwater, wastewater or utility fees.
The electric fund decreased by three percent under the new budget, while water, sewer and stormwater funds all rose. Stormwater spending, up 69 percent, was largely tied to grants from the Department of Natural Resources, Housing and Urban Development and FEMA.
“I believe the overall goal of the fiscal ‘16 proposed town budget enables the town of Berlin to maintain a financially stable [budget] … with continued incremental improvements in municipal services, while allowing the town to continue to invest in infrastructure and property to provide permanent benefits to the community in the future,” Williams said.
A public hearing was opened and closed without comment and Councilmember Troy Purnell made the formal motion to approve the budget.