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Pendergrass staff outline roughly $3 million draft budget, propose new parks department and higher police spending
Summary
City staff presented a draft general fund budget estimated at about $3,000,000, with revenues primarily from taxes and proposed increases for public safety and a new Parks and Recreation department; staff also proposed a $100,000 principal payment to reduce the city hall mortgage.
City staff presented the first of three budget meetings and laid out a draft general fund budget estimated at about $3,000,000.
Jennifer, the presenting staff member, said the revenue estimate is roughly $3 million with about 78% coming from taxes (presented as $2,333,000), licenses and permits at about 8% ($235,000), forfeitures listed as 14% ($407,000) and charges for services at around 1% ($25,000). Expenditure highlights in the draft include general government at about 47% ($1,364,000), public safety at roughly 34% (presented as about $1,020,000), municipal court at $210,000 (7%), public works at $320,000 (11%), and a newly proposed Parks and Recreation department with an inaugural budget of $50,000.
Jennifer said the city plans to apply $100,000 from fund balance to principal reduction on the city‑hall mortgage; she described the annual debt service as about $36,000 per year and said the loan is scheduled to be paid off in 2044 (as stated in the presentation). She cautioned that the 2024 audit remained incomplete at the time of the presentation and that some prior budgets had been far off actual audited numbers; she relied on audit figures and recent transactions to construct the draft.
Regarding public safety, the presentation showed a projected 2025 public-safety spend at about $952,000 and a proposed 2026 level near $1,020,000 (figures presented during the meeting); staff said the 2026 proposal would support 24‑hour police coverage, additional staffing, vehicle replacement and related operating costs. The presentation also included planning for capital outlays in public works and an intent to purchase at least one professional mower and possibly a vehicle replacement.
Staff said the budget would undergo two more review meetings and a required public budget hearing; the formal budget document was posted online the day of the meeting and staff said they would email councilors a copy. No final budget adoption occurred during the meeting.
Ending: Staff invited questions and scheduled further budget workshops and a formal budget hearing for public comment and final adoption on the timetable required by law.
