Hutto officials gear up to talk budget

HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) - Thursday brought the first full look for the Hutto City Council at the proposed 2010-2011 budget .

The budget includes information about the city’s financial condition, as well as updates on programs and services, upcoming capital projects and more.

Draft 2010-11 budget totals

• Expenses: $25,532,862
• Revenues: $21,113,436
• Bond revenue: $6,432,000

Unused fund balance from the current fiscal year will go toward Fiscal Year 2011 to make up the difference between budgeted revenues and expenses, due to the timing of projects.

While more than $25.5 million is budgeted for total expenses, only about 62 percent of that is for operations. That's a 2.1 percent increase from the previous operating portion of 2009-2010.

The overall operational increase is largely due to increases in the city’s take-or-pay water contracts and increases in debt service payments.

The remaining funds are related to capital projects.

The City Council took a record vote to publish a tax rate of about $0.52, the maximum rate the Council can consider for the 2010-2011 budget. The actual rate that balances the budget is only 1 cent less.

Hutto city officials are inviting the public to get involved in the budget discussion throughout the upcoming process.

A couple of meetings have been set throughout the summer to gather input.

• Aug. 12 at 7 p.m. - Public hearing on tax rate
• Aug. 19 at 7 p.m. - Budget public hearing

All meetings will take place at City Hall in the City Council Chambers at 401 West Front St.