By Kelsey Koenen

October 5, 2007 | NIBLEY -- The City Council discussed the city's consolidated 2007Capital Projects Budget Thursday, which proved they would come up half of a million dollars short next year if they don't change their current status quo, possibly by raising sales or property taxes. Projects mostly included parks or land development.

Councilman Thayne Mickelson said the council needed to remember the young families in their city that don't have a lot of income. They must think for themselves what they think for their residents.

"With the population we have … we cannot rely on sales tax. We are a unique city with a great amount of growth and very little sales tax base," City Manager Larry Anhder said. Anhder told the council whether they decided these projects were urgent was up to them, and Mayor Gerald Knight brought up that with a 40 percent increase on property taxes they would just fall in line with Logan City's property tax rate.

Bonds were discussed as another option to raise the money in order to get the work started as soon as possible but could take as long as 40 years to pay off. These expenses were outlining city needs for the next three to six years.

Most expensive was the construction of 3200 South being $4.6 million. The city still has $200,000 left that has not yet been funded in the 2007 plan. Other major projects included Heritage Park -- the construction of its parking lot and the development of the northwest quadrant, and Clear Creek Park development.

In other business, the ordinance addressing part of the Zollinger Development was voted on. Fourteen acres of agricultural land was changed to residential. The vote was 4-1, with Scott Larsen opposed.

NW
MS