Algood’s Proposed Budget Leaves Property Tax Same

Algood’s proposed 2024-2025 fiscal year budget leaves property taxes unchanged.

During a Monday night work session, Algood City Administrator Keith Morrison told City Council Members the city brings in some $400,000 annually in property tax revenue. Morrison said the budget includes 50-cent raises for city employees.

“For the ’24-’25, I’m estimating revenues at $3.8 million,” Morrison said. “For the current fiscal year, total expenses were $5.4 million. For this current next year that I’m proposing, $4.9.”

Morrison said he decided to not look at any major park projects for the coming year. Vice Mayor Luke Hill said he believes taking a year off from major spending makes sense.

“I didn’t ask for a lot of things,” Morrison said. “I wanted a crane service truck, a back trailer, a lean-two storage building, a press storage box, park enhancement. I’ve got a whole list of things I’d like to have, but I didn’t put any of that in there.”

Morrison said he would like to have the first reading for the proposed budget in May and have it approved in June.

The council voted in November to pass a budget amendment to purchase police vehicles a year in advance, so the proposed budget has no money budgeted for vehicles. Police Chief Dale Armour’s portion of the budget does, however, include $40,000 for in-car computer systems for police vehicles. Armour said he is looking for grant funding to supplement that purchase.

Morrison said the last of the city’s ARP money has been spent. He said Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance has only risen by some two percent. He said he was pleased with that number given that it would only increase the employee-only coverage cost by some $10 monthly.

“We’ve got $100,000 in for paving, $40,000 for sidewalks, $55,000 for fire equipment, $15,000 for a zero-turn,” Morrison said.