If Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly has his way, city taxpayers won't be shelling out more in property taxes this year.

Jolly said he's confident the city can trim about $550,000 in excess expenditures to balance the proposed budget.

"I think we'll be able to balance the budget without a tax hike this year," he said.

The proposed budget will be the focus of a workshop today immediately following today's 7 p.m. regularly scheduled meeting of Gaffney City Council.

Proposed expenditures outpace projected revenues by about $550,000 in the new City of Gaffney fiscal year budget, administrator James Taylor told the finance committee last month.

The city is expected to take in about $10 million in revenue during the new fiscal year while expenses could total more than $10.5 million, leaving a shortfall of $550,000.

Rather than giving a modest cost-of-living raise, council will consider increasing employee Christmas bonuses from $500 to $1,000 in the proposed budget.

Jolly said he supports the idea to give more at Christmas time.

"I think employees would rather get a larger Christmas bonus," he said.

Last year, Gaffney City Council approved a $10,881,663 spending plan that included a 4-mill tax hike.

Two readings and a public hearing are needed before the new budget goes on the books July 1.