Dunkirk approves budget (09/28/07)

DUNKIRK - Second and final reading of Dunkirk's $1.3 million budget for 2008 was approved Thursday night following a brief public hearing by the city council.

The full council was present for the hearing on the budget, which was approved by a unanimous vote.

The new budget grants a 2.5 percent pay increase to full-time city employees. It totals $1.3 million overall with approximately $1.1 million for the general fund which covers most city departments including police, fire, city clerk and general administrative offices.

The new budget projects a 15-cent per $100 assessed valuation increase in the city's property tax rate to $1.50, up from the current year rate of $1.35.

City officials said the reasons for the increase included the employee pay hike and an increase in the premium for city employee health insurance.[[In-content Ad]]