By Bill Grubb

ROGERSVILLE — While other costs are rising on an almost daily basis, Rogersville residents will not have to worry about paying a higher city property tax rate.

    Rather than raise the tax rate of $1.27 per $100 of assessed property value the Rogersville Board of Mayor and Aldermen gave final approval Monday to a 2008-2009 spending that is projected to use more than $1 million of the city’s estimated $2.5 million fund balance.

    “I believe the board felt with the economy the way it is this just wasn’t the time to be raising property taxes on people,” Mayor Jim Sells said during a Wednesday telephone interview.

    According to figures presented by City Recorder Bill Lyons, the 2008-2009 budget contains projected revenues of $5.1 million and expenditures of $6.5 million.

    During the second reading city officials discussed possible ways to reduce expenditures including deferring new vehicle purchases and halting the practice of allowing police officers to take their police vehicles home.

    Sells said the BMA did not approve any substantial cuts or reductions in the budget prior to the final reading on June 30.

    “Another thing I think the board members took into account was we usually do better than the budget estimates.  We didn’t spend the amount we said we would in last year’s budget, so they think we can do that again this year.  We really don’t think we will be taking as much from the reserves as the budget shows,” Sells said