A proposed 2025 budget for Lebanon city is being finalized and will be available for public inspection soon.
At Monday night’s Lebanon City Council meeting, Mayor Sherry Capello reported that the budget will soon be available for review on the city’s web page and in person during business hours at the Department of Administration at City Hall, second floor.
The budget in 2024 was $17,371,636, a 5.32% increase over 2023. It was balanced by carrying forward a $2,958,483 budget surplus from the previous year.
The city has gone nine years without a property tax increase.
Members of the public will have a chance to comment on the proposed budget at hearings before council at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, and at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12.
A special City Council meeting will be held at 4:45 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 14, for council to vote on whether to approve an ordinance adopting the 2025 revenue and spending plan. If they do, the budget ordinance will have to pass a second time, at the Nov. 25 council meeting, to go into effect.
All budget-related proceedings will be held in the City Hall multi-purpose room, 735 Cumberland St., first floor, Lebanon.
Other council business
In other matters on a brief October meeting agenda:
- Capello reported that through Sept. 30, with the fiscal year 75% complete, city revenues and expenditures were at 90% and 69%, respectively, of 2024 budget projections.
- Capello told council that she has reappointed Jerry Kalinoski and former mayor Jacqueline Parker to four-year terms on the city’s planning commission. Kalinoski has served for 26 years, Parker for 13. The planning commission advises city officials on uses of land, structures, streets, and other public facilities.
- Capello reported that the planning commission has a vacancy that has to be filled by a resident who lives west of 10th Street and north of Cumberland Street.
- Capello reported that she has reappointed Robert Okonak to a four-year term on the city’s police and fire civil service commission. Okonak has served for 31 years.
- Council passed a resolution approving certified public accountants Barbacane Thornton as auditors of various city accounts for 2024, with an option to extend through 2026. The city will pay Barbacane $40,500 for 2024, followed by 6% increases in 2025 and 2026 if the option is exercised.
- Council passed a resolution approving the destruction of paper accounts payable records from 2013 and before, as authorized by state law.
Holiday schedules
- Trick or treat in the city will be on Thursday, Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m.
- The city’s Christmas tree lighting ceremony at 9th and Cumberland streets, sponsored by the Community of Lebanon Association, will be on Friday, Nov. 22, at 6 p.m.
- The city’s 48th annual Holiday Parade, also sponsored by the CLA, will be on Saturday, Nov. 23, starting at 10 a.m.
Next Lebanon City Council meetings
City Council’s next pre-council planning meeting will be on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 4:45 p.m. The next regular monthly council meeting will be on Monday, Nov. 25, at 6:30 p.m.
Both meetings are open to the public and will be held in the City Hall multi-purpose room, 735 Cumberland St., first floor, Lebanon.
Meetings are also streamed live on YouTube here.
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