Because the Town has previously made tough decisions to effectively weather the nationwide financial downturn, 2013 will provide the Town an opportunity to address a number of needs and begin various priority projects, without increasing taxes or charging new fees.

Continued focus for the proposed 2013 budget will be on Town Council’s five major priorities: securing our long-term renewable water future; completing the North Meadows Extension; providing outstanding public health and safety services; creating jobs and improving the business climate; and construction of Philip S. Miller Park Phase One. Additional priorities for the proposed 2013 budget include: planning for a new field house; updating Vision 2020 and the 2020 Comprehensive Plan; Interstate 25 corridor planning; and maintaining high quality Town services.

Council will first be presented with the proposed 2013 budget during its meeting Tuesday. A formal first reading will follow on Nov. 13, with the second and final reading scheduled for Dec. 4. Public input will be heard at all three presentations.

The planning process to develop this proposal included a look at Town Council goals, priorities and policies, along with results from the 2011 community survey, and input from various boards and commissions. At the same time, the Town also completed a three-year financial planning process that resulted in a three-year balanced financial plan, which outlines how the Town will address numerous levels of services issues and complete planned projects.

The proposed 2013 budget and three-year balanced financial plan balance the budget without raising taxes. That means that the owner of a $300,000 house still would only pay about $40 per year to the Town for the wide range of services that it provides.

Additional details of the proposed budget are available at CRgov.com/2012 budget. Specific highlights within the Town’s top priorities include:
• Entering negotiations with two long-term water providers, per Council direction
• A new ambulance/medic unit
• 6 additional police officers

The total proposed budget includes $196.3 million in expenditures and $158.2 million in revenues. The planned use of reserves – mostly for water projects, Miller Park Phase One and the North Meadows Extension – would offset that difference. Property taxes are expected to make up only about $1 million, or less than 1 percent, of the Town’s total 2013 revenues.

Several more long-term issues are on the horizon, including: implementing renewable water solutions, a future additional fire stations, assessing Development Services and Golf Course enterprise funds; Town office space and maintenance facilities; and continued tax-based expansion.

Read more about these and other budget-related issues online, CRgov.com/2013budget.