Rising salaries, utilities cause concern

By JOEL WRIGHT

Staff writer

Hillsboro City Council approved a budget of $9,240,387 Tuesday for 2014, which included a 3-percent raise for city employees.

Of that, $649,583 will be levied for taxes, based on assessment value.

The increase drew response from the public, prompting Councilman Shelby Dirks to make a motion for control of salary increases.

“We’re 10, 20, 30 percent higher than other cities,” he said. “It’s gotten out of control.”

Effective immediately, any city employee receiving a salary increase will have it approved by the council first.

There was also concern for rising utility taxes. Administrator Larry Paine said utilities have to expend as much money as they earn to balance them out.

“The remedy is incongruent with how the council wants property tax levied within the town,” Paine said.

The council also approved the appointment of Jamey Driggers and Russell Groves to the library board, as well as the re-appointment of Krista Heinrichs to the board of zoning.