Hiram Council Could Adopt Budget Tonight

Hiram residents will continue to see no city property taxes should a proposed ordinance receive approval from councilmen tonight.

The Hiram City Council is holding today at 6:30 p.m. a public hearing and called meeting, both of which will focus on budgetary issues. The public hearing, which precedes the called meeting, is to allow community members the chance to speak on the city’s proposed fiscal year 2013 budget and supporting documents, such as the city’s five-year tax levy history.

Hiram residents do not pay a city property tax, and city officials are proposing that the council set the city's millage rate at 2.479 mills and then roll it back to zero, meaning residents would continue to pay no property taxes.

The public hearing will be the second the city has held on the budget and property tax issue. No one spoke regarding the proposed millage or budget at the first public hearing held Oct. 10.

The council’s called meeting will begin after the hearing, with the ordinance setting the ad valorem tax rate at 0 percent being the first measure up for consideration. After that, councilmen will consider adopting the proposed FY2013 budget. A copy of the draft budget presented Oct. 10 is attached to this article.

The proposed $5.349 million budget presented Oct. 10 includes $1.75 million in expenditures for the police department; $704,856.58 in expenditures for the administrative department; $1.51 million in expenditures for public works; $400,261.17 in expenditures for municipal court; and 113,005.45 in expenditures for the mayor and city council.

The complete meeting agenda is also attached to this article.

Return to Dallas-Hiram Patch for coverage of tonight’s council meeting.