While the estate tax has fluctuated in recent years, for example, Williams said it has provided between $100,000 and $400,000 in revenue to the city in recent years.
Income tax revenue for the city has increased as the unemployment rate for the city dropped to about 7.8 percent, Williams said. Overall, income tax revenue accounts for about 50 percent of the general fund budget. However, the cuts in state funding negated those gains, meaning the general fund budget will remain basically flat, Williams said.
Overall, the city’s budget is a slight improvement from its recent low of about $6 million in 2009 and 2010. However, other costs such as fuel and materials for capital improvements have also increased.
“It’s not enough to write home about,” Williams said.
The city has two budget cycles each year. The tax budget, released in the spring, is an estimate of the revenue that will be available. The appropriations budget, which is being reviewed now, gives an estimate of the city’s expenses. When revenue from the city’s police and fire levies are included, along with other sources of revenue, the total city budget was estimated at about $15.3 million.
Council members will likely vote on the 2013 budget in mid-December.
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