The Gaffney Police Department will be getting six shiny new cruisers and the Public Works Department will be adding a new garbage truck to its fleet.

Each fully equipped police cruiser will cost $31,000 for a total cost of about $200,000. The garbage truck will be about half that amount.

But those capital expenditures won't be funded out of the proposed budget.

Because of the downturn in the economy that makes revenue projections iffy at best, Gaffney Administrator James Taylor has recommended council dip into the $600,000 surplus from the fiscal year budget ending June 2008 to pay for the high-ticket items.

As for the proposed budget, Taylor said raising property taxes is off the table because of the depressed local economy.

"I'm not even considering raising taxes," he said.

That means the city will likely dip into its cash reserves to balance the proposed budget. Currently, budget requests surpass revenues by about $900,000.

Taylor said he's making every attempt to balance the budget without eliminating workers or furloughing employees.

Taylor said he still hasn't made a decision regarding employee cost-of-living raises. But about 80 employees will receive a bump in pay due to their longevity with the city.

Taylor has said previously he expects slight reductions this year in hospitality and property tax revenues. That's key since property taxes generate about $4 million of the city's annual $10 million budget. License fees make up another $2 to $2.5 million, while fire district taxes and state aid make up most of the remainder.

On a positive note, Taylor said the city is expected to realize about $200,000 from the new local option sales tax.

First reading of the proposed budget is scheduled for June 1, with second reading slated for June 15.