City passes final reading of budget
By LARRY HILLIARD Ledger Staff Writer larry@gaffneyledger.com

As expected, Gaffney City Council passed final reading Monday on its $10,881,663 budget that includes a 4-mill tax hike and a 3 percent cost-ofliving raise for city employees.

The owner of a $100,000 home will pay an extra $16 a year in taxes. Any millage increase for city taxpayers is capped at 4 mills, according to a new state law that limits tax increases to the Consumer Price Index and the city's population growth.

The budget also includes capital expenses for six new police cruisers and trucks for the maintenance and public works departments.

The budget represents a 10.5 percent increase over last year's $9,850,000 spending plan.

At its May meeting, city administrator James Taylor told Gaffney City Council the city still faces a $143,000 deficit after trimming budget requests.

Taylor asked council to consider keeping its hiring freeze in effect, eliminating capital expenditures from the proposed budget and raising taxes as options to balance the 2007- '08 budget.

Real estate revenues increased this year, but not enough to offset a drop in vehicle tax collections.

The budget takes effect July 1.