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City holds hearing on budget, tax rate
Funds allocated for senior-friendly transportation
Kimberly Cox
Issue date: 9/12/07 Section: NEWS
At the first public hearing for the 2007-08 City of Denton proposed budget, John Schneider, a representative of the Senior Citizens' Center, asked the council for $6,000 to be added to the center's transportation budget.
In a petition, signed by 270 senior citizens in Denton, they requested the money to rent a bus for the 30 trips they make each year.
"We're trying to get transportation," Schneider said. "We know it's not feasible to purchase a bus this year, but we're looking at renting one."
The current bus, he said, has wheelchair access for chair-bound seniors, but it was difficult to fit everyone into the current vehicles.
Kurt Stogsdill, a driver for the center, said they need a new one badly and it is hard to fit everybody into the vans.
"We do need a senior-friendly van," he said.
Councilmember Joe Mulroy asked city manager George Campbell if there was money in the budget for the increase. After confirming the money was available, Mulroy said the seniors needed the money.
"[It's] a lot of money if you don't have it," Mulroy said.
The council approved amending the budget to increase senior transportation to $15,500.
Brian Langley, director of finance for the city, went over the proposed 2007-08 budget at the hearing.
Currently the budget sits at $415,546,566, $6.5 million over last year's budget.
The reason for the increase, Langley said, is that a three-cent increase in maintenance and operation taxes to finish the payment of a bond approved in 2005, and one-cent increase to help fund a $7 million bond for drainage projects.
The proposed budget is available online at http://cityofdenton.com. The next budget hearing is 6:30 p.m., Sept. 18, at city hall, 215 E. McKinney St.
In a petition, signed by 270 senior citizens in Denton, they requested the money to rent a bus for the 30 trips they make each year.
"We're trying to get transportation," Schneider said. "We know it's not feasible to purchase a bus this year, but we're looking at renting one."
The current bus, he said, has wheelchair access for chair-bound seniors, but it was difficult to fit everyone into the current vehicles.
Kurt Stogsdill, a driver for the center, said they need a new one badly and it is hard to fit everybody into the vans.
"We do need a senior-friendly van," he said.
Councilmember Joe Mulroy asked city manager George Campbell if there was money in the budget for the increase. After confirming the money was available, Mulroy said the seniors needed the money.
"[It's] a lot of money if you don't have it," Mulroy said.
The council approved amending the budget to increase senior transportation to $15,500.
Brian Langley, director of finance for the city, went over the proposed 2007-08 budget at the hearing.
Currently the budget sits at $415,546,566, $6.5 million over last year's budget.
The reason for the increase, Langley said, is that a three-cent increase in maintenance and operation taxes to finish the payment of a bond approved in 2005, and one-cent increase to help fund a $7 million bond for drainage projects.
The proposed budget is available online at http://cityofdenton.com. The next budget hearing is 6:30 p.m., Sept. 18, at city hall, 215 E. McKinney St.
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