Salisbury City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposed city budget when members meets at 4 p.m. Tuesday in City Hall.
People can sign up before the meeting to speak for up to three minutes.
The proposed 2011-12 budget includes cutting jobs, raising the tax rate, increasing water and sewer rates and reorganizing some city divisions.
The budget totals $69.6 million.
Salisbury’s current property tax rate is 59 cents per $100 of valuation. Because the city’s tax base fell 8 percent this year as a result of Rowan County’s revaluation, City Manager David Treme has recommended increasing Salisbury’s tax rate next year by 5.2 cents to bring in the same amount of revenue.
The new tax rate of 64.2 cents would be “revenue neutral,” meaning the city would neither lose nor gain revenue from property taxes.
The city also faces a $2.7 million budget shortfall as a result of the poor economy.
The budget calls for eliminating 36 full-time and 11 part-time positions. Most of the jobs were already vacant, the result of a rolling freeze that started several years ago. Four city workers have been laid off.
The budget also includes increasing water and sewer rates by an average of 2.86 percent, the smallest increase in eight years. Recycling fees would go up 58 cents per month.
No other fees or charges will increase, including charges for Fibrant, the city’s new broadband utility.
The budget is available at City Hall and on the city’s website at www.salisburync.gov.
The new fiscal year begins July 1.
Also on City Council’s agenda Tuesday:
• Recognize the Rowan-Cabarrus Community College Student Government Association for winning the Top “C” Campus Award at the N.C. Comprehensive Community College Student Government Association conference.
• Recognize Lt. Karen Barbee, Master Police Officer Phil Simmons, Master Police Officer Mark Shue and Detective Danny Dyles, all retiring from the Salisbury Police Department.
• Recognize GIS Coordinator Kathryn Clifton for receiving the designation of Environmental Systems Research Institute certified trainer
• Hear about music composed by David Cooke to honor the 10th anniversary of the sister-city relationship with Salisbury, England.
• Hear about the Choice Neighborhoods Grant.
• Hear an update and consider adopting the Rowan County/City of Salisbury Community Transportation Service Plan.
• Receive public comments.
• Hold a closed session concerning a personnel matter as allowed by state law.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.