Proposed budget calls for investments in infrastructure, public safety

City Manager Brynn Myers presented the proposed 2022 Fiscal Year budget at the July 15 City Council meeting, highlighted by continued investments in infrastructure and public safety.

“We want to make sure we’re being very intentional about allocating our resources in a way that helps us accomplish the vision, mission and goals that you all have set for us as an organization in support of our community,” Myers said. “Our Financial Plan takes all of our goals, initiatives and projects and identifies the resources that are necessary to accomplish that.”

The proposed budget totals $216,451,423. The proposed property tax rate is 64.25 cents per $100 valuation – a one-cent decrease from the current tax rate.

The annual budget fits into the city’s Business Plan, which outlines goals and priorities for the next several years. That business plan includes significant upgrades to roads, utility infrastructure, facilities and more.

“We currently have just under $350 million in active capital improvement projects, and throughout the course of the business plan, we have another $407 million in projects proposed to help support our growing community as well as making sure we’re continuing to invest in the exiting parts of our community,” Myers said.

The 2022 proposed budget continues several of these projects. It also includes the hiring of additional police officers and the purchase of a new ladder truck for Temple Fire & Rescue.

The City Council will hold the final public hearing and will vote to adopt the budget at its Aug. 13 meeting at 8:30 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, 2 N. Main St.

To view the proposed budget in its entirety, visit https://bit.ly/2UdVfbX.