The city has finalized its spending plan for next year.
Columbus City Council members approved the second reading of the city’s 2024 budget on Tuesday.
Columbus’s proposed budget for 2024 is about $109 million, finance director Regina McIntyre said. The 2024 tax rate is expected to be about $1.10 for every $100 of assessed value, compared to a 2023 rate of $1.0889.
“This year’s current tax rate is the lowest we’ve had for 10 years,” said Councilman Frank Miller. “And even though the advertised rate is $1.4747, we project next year’s certified rate to be almost the same as it is currently.”
Capital needs in the budget total $12.2 million, McIntyre said. This includes $7.6 million in road and thoroughfare improvements, $2.1 million in public safety, $1 million in parks and recreation projects and $1 million in public works and transportation.
There is also a section for funds from the American Rescue Plan (ARP). According to Chief Deputy Clerk Treasurer Kimberly Sweet, the city received a total of $8,570,495 from the act. Director of Administration and Community Development Mary Ferdon said at a previous meeting that it’s estimated there will be $2.6 million left at the end of 2023.
The city’s 2024 ARP budget allocates $250,000 for grant expenditures and another $250,000 for capital expenses.
The former refers to the city’s commitment to pay for low-income families to connect to high-speed internet, according to Ferdon.
Meridiam Infrastructure North America Corp. has agreed to create a fiber network that spans Columbus, Bartholomew County, Bloomington and Shelbyville. Hoosier Fiber Networks is the fiber network utility provider for this system, and GigabitNow is the initial internet service provider.
As part of the agreement, city officials committed to using some of Columbus’ ARP funds to help cover the cost of connection for low-income residents.
The other expense in the ARA fund is $250,000 for new security cameras and related equipment for downtown Columbus, Ferdon said.
The city’s 2024 budget also includes a 16.5% increase for police salaries and 13.9% increase for firefighters in the hopes of improving recruitment and retention, McIntyre said.
Salaries for the city’s civilian employees may increase up to 5% in 2024, with discretion left up to department heads based on performance.
The approved mayor’s salary is a 5% increase over 2023. City council salaries will go up 3%. The city is budgeting for nine members — as opposed to the current seven — due to the council’s decision to adopt second-class status for the city of Columbus, effective in 2024.
The change affects other positions as well. State code specifies that while third class cities elect a clerk-treasurer, second class cities elect a clerk. Both positions fill the role of city clerk; however, the clerk-treasurer also serves as the city’s fiscal officer. In a second class city, the fiscal officer is a city controller appointed by the mayor.
While the clerk-treasurer’s salary for 2023 is $89,848, the clerk’s salary for 2024 is $75,600.
McIntyre is set to become the city controller in 2024, once the change in class becomes official.
According to McIntyre, other administrative changes include:
- The formalization of a new administration office with an executive director of administration and a director of security and risk
- The clerk-treasurer’s office becoming the department of finance
- A new clerk’s office
- Removal of the department of operations and finance and risk “as duties have been dispersed to other personnel”
- The elimination of the executive director of public works position
She also stated that health insurance costs are expected to remain high in 2024, so the budget includes a 21% increase in this category.
