Published: September 30, 2008 12:07 pm      

Keene city council approves budget and tax rate

The Keene City Council approved the city budget and tax rate for the approaching fiscal year Thursday. The 2008-09 fiscal year begins Wednesday.

Council members approved a property tax rate of 82.1737 cents per $100 worth of value, an amount the same as the current year’s rate.

The city budget contains about $123,000 in contingency funds. During budget workshop talks, council members discussed the possibility of using the extra funding to hire additional police and fire personnel.

Council vote on both items split 3-3 with Mayor Roy Robinson breaking the tie by voting in favor.

Council members voted to purchase two new police cars at a cost of $64,442. The price includes two fully equipped 2009 Dodge Chargers. City officials structured the sale so payments will not be due until the 2009-10 fiscal year.

The council also voted not to relist a parcel of city-owned land on Old Betsy Road. Council members tried unsuccessfully to sell the 3.02 acre parcel of land several times. Proceeds from the sale were to be used to offset a city budget shortfall.

The council last month sold another parcel of land to Southwestern Adventist University for $258,000. Funds from that sale also went toward offsetting the budget shortfall.

Because of lack of interest in the second parcel of land, council members decided not to continue paying fees to list and advertise the parcel, said Bill Guinn, city accountant. The council may try to sell the land again at a later date, he said.