Clayton Town Manager Steve Biggs released his proposed 2016-17 fiscal year budget to members of the Clayton Town Council this week.
The $21.5 million spending plan is up about $1 million over the current 2015-16 budget, but it keeps the 55 cents property tax rate unchanged.
One highlight of the budget is the proposed hiring of 22 new full-time employees. The budget includes 9 new positions in the fire department out of 16 that were requested, 1 in engineering, 2 positions in water and sewer, 1 position in GIS, 1 in the electric department, 3 sanitation positions, 4 property maintenance staff, and 1 support specialist in Cultural Arts. With the exception of the GIS position, none of the positions is budgeted for the full year. The new positions would be filled at later times throughout the fiscal year, which begins July 1st.
Biggs said overall the revenue growth remains strong and it appears to be sustainable based on the queue of projects underway and proposed in Clayton. The budget includes funds for building maintenance projects and a second phase of remodeling of the Clayton Center Town Hall wings, this time with additions to the Town Clerk and Human Resource areas.
Biggs said the current fiscal year budget benefited by the town switching from a private insurance carrier to the state insurance pool for town employees.
The new budget proposal keeps Clayton’s water and sewer rates unchanged. Merit pay increases for existing employees are available at 0, 2, and 5 percent.
The budget will be formally presented to the town council on Tuesday, May 24th at 6pm in the police department training room. A public hearing will take place during the Monday, June 6th regularly scheduled town council meeting. The budget is expected to be finalized by Friday, June 10th and adopted on Monday, June 20th during a town council work session.
