Sparta Aldermen Approve $8.79M Budget First Reading

Sparta Board of Aldermen approved its $8.79 million budget on first reading, an increase of some $2 million from last year.

The biggest difference in the budget, the inclusion of the $2.3 million splash pad in the public service budget. Public works expenses also increased some $292,000 in the highways and streets budget.

Personnel expenses have also increased, with expenses for city leadership up some $33,000 over last year’s budget. The city administration salary expenses have nearly doubled from a year ago.

Revenues projected for the year at $8.89 million, an increase from $8.191 million. That’s the projected number at the end of the current fiscal year.

The budget projects the city of Sparta with $12.69 million in its general fund balance at the end of this fiscal year. That number does not include the water, sewer and electric departments.

The budget outlines five proposed capital project appropriations in the coming year including the splash pad and $2 million for the proposed riverfront park. Sewer upgrades as well as water and sewer plant upgrades are also proposed.

Sparta’s property tax rate stands at 91.83 cents per $100 assessed evaluation.