Balanced budget comes to council tonight

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Though it has a slim margin of $12,000, the proposed operating budget for the City of Maricopa will be balanced.

“This is the first year in a few years where the operating budget actually balanced,” Finance Director Brian Ritschel said. He credited fiscal prudency in the city manager’s office.

The tentative budget comes before the city council for a vote tonight. The final budget is expected June 15.

The total proposed budget is $114 million.

That includes a drop in the tax rates. The primary property tax rate decreases nearly 20 cents to $4.78 per $100 net assessed value. “The net assessed valuation went up,” Ritschel explained.

The secondary tax rate, which is paying off two voter-approved bonds for Copper Sky Regional Park, decreases 66 cents to $1.70.

Ritschel said the primary tax levy is staying consistent. This fiscal year, the levy was $10.3 million. Next fiscal year, it is $10.5 million. The overall tax levy drops from $15.3 million to $14.3 million.