Port Neches council eyes raises for employees
Published 9:10 pm Thursday, September 7, 2017
PORT NECHES — With the needs of its employees in mind, leaders of the city of Port Neches are looking at adding a cost of living adjustment and step raises as the city works on its 2017-2018 fiscal year budget.
The 2 percent COLA and the step raises come to about $295,000 from the general fund budget, $39,200 from the water/sewer fund and $14,300 from the sanitation fund, according to information from the city.
City leaders are also looking at adding in funding for capital expenditures.
Capital expenditures coming from the general fund include the purchase of a police vehicle, a truck and computers to be placed in the fire department’s trucks for a cost of about $75,000.
The purchase of truck and replacement water meters will come from the water/sewer fund at about $87,000.
Council has discussed these issues during several previous city council meetings.
The total proposed budget revenues and expenditures are $16.9 million.
On Thursday, councilmembers held the first of two public hearings regarding the proposed tax rate.
“The proposed tax rate for the 2017-2018 fiscal year is .7250 per $100 assessed valuation. The effective rate is .6897 per $100 assessed valuation,” Andre Wimer, city manager, said.
The proposed tax rate is slightly more than the previous years rate of .7050 per $100 valuation.
Council will hold another public hearing over its tax rate next week.