Public safety center, streets projects and fire truck included in next year’s budget

A new public safety center, street projects and a fire truck are some of the bigger-ticket items proposed in Roseburg’s budget for the next fiscal year.

But, overall, the budget proposes few frills or changes over this year’s budget. Residents will see the same levels of service.

The Budget Committee will take its first look at the $63.4 million budget Tuesday, and the City Council will hold a public hearing and consider final budget adoption at its June 19 meeting. The next fiscal year starts July 1.

The overall budget is about 2.6 percent bigger than this year’s budget. Rising personnel-related costs, such as health insurance premiums and retirement benefits, account for much of that, City Manager Eric Swanson said. The soaring cost of gasoline and other materials also upped the total budget tally.

The proposed $23.8 million general fund, which pays for basic services such as police and fire services and parks, is about 4 percent bigger than this year.

General fund expenses are up about 26 percent. Half that increase comes from $2.25 million that will go toward finishing up the public safety center.

Swanson said the city has accumulated that money from savings it has set aside in the general fund over time, allowing the city to build the $18 million center without raising taxes.

The majority of the center’s funding will come from the city’s Urban Renewal Agency budget, which is separate from its regular budget.

Another police-related expense will take another big chunk out of the general fund. The county is asking the city to pony up about $140,000 more next year to cover its share of the county’s cost of providing 911 dispatch services.

Swanson said the hike is due to the county readjusting its budget in anticipation of shrinking federal timber payments. Swanson said the city benefits from contracting with the county for dispatch services. And he thinks the city paying a bigger portion of those costs is probably a truer reflection of how much the city uses the 911 dispatch services. One positive of the increased costs could be the city having more say in how the dispatch services are run, he added.

Beyond those expenses, the general fund proposes some tweaks in the total number of city employees. As proposed, the city would make a part-time municipal clerk full time to help process a 135 percent spike in traffic crimes since 2005.

The budget proposes adding staff to the airport, which is supported through a separate, self-sustaining fund. As proposed, the city would expand a part-time airport manager position, which it has contracted out, into a full-time position hired by the city.

Swanson said the expanded hours are in response to the addition of new hangars at the airport as well as a chance to apply for grants for more airport improvements.

Additionally, the budget proposes added expenses in the transportation, vehicle replacement and parks budgets.

As proposed, about $2.5 million will go toward street projects. Proposed projects range from putting in a stop light at the intersection of Chestnut Avenue and Stephens Street to installing sidewalks along Vine Street near Joseph Lane Middle School and studying how to possibly line Main Street with historic street lights.

The projects would be paid for from federal and state funds as well as transportation system development charges the city charges locals.

Additionally, the budget proposes plunking down $850,000 for a new fire truck. The city has set aside the money over time, anticipating the major expense, Swanson said.

In the parks budget, money has been set aside to possibly renovate the Stewart Park playground, based on whether the city receives a $50,000 grant.

In case it does, the budget allocates a match of $25,000 from the Stewart Trust and another $25,000 from the parks budget.

As proposed, average taxpayers will see no change in the city portion of their tax rate and few in the rates they pay for city services next year.

The city’s property tax rate would remain at $8.48 per $1,000 of assessed value. That means the owner of a $100,000 home will pay $848 in city property taxes.

Monthly water and stormwater charges also will stay the same. Golfers at the Stewart Park golf course, however, will pay more to play a round of golf. Golf course fees are proposed to rise 6 percent.

The proposed hike will help keep up with rising costs and allow the city to set aside some money to make needed improvements at the course, Swanson said.



• You can reach reporter Kathy Korengel at 957-4218 or by e-mail at kkorengel@newsreview.info.