The Kosciusko Board of Aldermen adopted the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget at its Sept. 7 meeting. The board also adopted the related 2021-2022 fiscal year tax levy on real and personal property for the city and the Kosciusko School District.
Overall, the budget reflects a deficit of $949,580, but City Clerk Michelle Quesnot explained that the city intentionally over-budgets for expenditures and underbudgets revenues to be prepared for a worst-case financial scenario. If expenses do exceed revenues, the city has reserved funds to cover the difference. Budgeted revenues total $4,170,400 with $5,119,980 in total expenses budgeted.
No adjustments were made to the millage rates for the school district, but two mills were added to the city’s levy tax fund for general purposes and general improvements — rising to 23.13 mills from 21.13. There was no millage increase for library, solid waste, or debt services.
With the millage adjustment, residents will see a slight tax increase for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. The two mill increase will amount to about $20 per $100,000 of a home’s value.
This is the first time the City of Kosciusko has raised taxes since fiscal year 2016-2017.
The city’s new expense budget includes city-wide pay raises. There was an increase due to the rising cost of living, which Quesnot said the city tries to budget annually. Normally, the raise is 2-3%, but it will be slightly higher this year to keep city employees earning living wages.
The Kosciusko Police Department wages will increase by 5 percent, with new uncertified officers, academy graduates, certified officers with three or more years of experience, senior patrolmen, lieutenants, captains, and investigators, garnering raises.
The Kosciusko Fire Department wages will increase by 7 percent, with captains, lieutenants, and firefighters getting raises.
The E-911 Center staff wages will increase by 4 percent.
Wages in other departments — public works, street, cemetery, and parks and recreation — were not previously governed by a structured pay scale. Wages were arbitrarily determined based on skill level, but this budget implements pay scales for maintenance and labor workers, solid waste employees, cement and asphalt employees, equipment operators, licensed operators, foremen, and superintendents.
