The Baldwin City Council will hold a public hearing for the city’s FY 2025 budget during its work session Tuesday, June 4, 2024.
Chief Administrative Officer Emily Woodmaster presented a revised version of the budget during last Tuesday’s end of month council meeting. The new budget proposal removes the previously recommended positions but may still result in a millage rate increase.
Woodmaster presented the first proposed budget during a town hall meeting held under a tent in the Farmers Market in downtown Baldwin on May 14. That budget had a $311.000 deficit.
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The budget presented last Tuesday saw a balanced general fund budget of $4,027,779. However, the budget includes a property tax increase of nearly $200,000 over last year’s budget or a millage rate increase of approximately 1.11 mils.
What’s out
The most recent budget proposal takes out the rank and file personnel that was in the initial budget. Two full time police officers, three full time firefighters, 2 part time GCIC operators, and a part time Court Clerk assistant have all been removed. Training was reduced for the Mayor and Council. Two vehicles were also pulled from the budget.
What’s in
City employees will get a 2.5% cost of living adjustment (COLA) next year. The Chief Administrative Officer’s (CAO) 10% salary increase is also in the FY 2025 budget.
Another change is all salaried employees will no longer receive paid time off (PTO). The dollar amount equivalent of PTO will now be rolled into their salary. The CAO’s salary with the PTO dollar equivalent, a 2.5% COLA, and the 10% increase will move the needle from $104,000 to $123,410.
Even with the personnel cuts, funding was added back slightly for part time firefighters to cover shifts when full time personnel were sent to training or on vacation.
During last week’s budget discussion, Mayor Stephanie Almagno and Council member Alice Venter encouraged citizens to attend the public hearing. “You got to come to us and tell us what you want or don’t want,” Venter said.
The Baldwin City Council will meet for its works session on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will be held in the Baldwin Municipal Courtroom at 155 Willingham Avenue in Baldwin.
