(KAIR)--The City of Atchison is nearing the end of it's yearly budget process, with City Manager Trey Cocking presenting the City Commission with his proposed 2016 budget during Monday afternoon's meeting.

Cocking presented all aspects of the budget, including goals for the coming year, and the city sales tax, which has leveled off in recent years. Property taxes were also addressed, and City Finance Director Becky Anderson says they will increase, but only slightly. “The total property taxes go up around $50,000 total, which is less than one percent. The mill levy is actually staying the same. And the impact, unless an individual's property valuation went up, the impact would be a decrease to property owners because the valuation only went up because utility valuation went up. So Westar would be paying more, but the average property owner would be paying less.”

Anderson adds that officials were able to find about $450,000 to close the gap in the city's general fund with multiple changes including “...decreases in our capital improvement fund transfer, we decreased that by about $75,000, decreased our equipment reserve transfer by $25,000. We are putting off hiring a new Community Development Director. That position has been open since February of this year and we are leaving it open until next April, that saves us about $65,000. We had two street employees...that we have transferred to the sewer fund, that gets us about $100,000 is savings when you take their salary and benefits.”

Utilities will also increase, but the proposed rates could change between now and December when they are officially set for 2016. “What we have budgeted is four percent for water, five percent for sewer, and five percent for the CSO fee...so it's about a $5 on that bill.”

The proposed budget will be published Wednesday, and Commissioners have until Monday to submit any suggested amendments. A public hearing is scheduled for August 4th with the completed budget due to the Atchison County Clerk no later than August 25th.