Staff

Writer

The good

news for Tyrone residents is that this year's proposed

$2.42 million budget is not going to increase taxes.

But in

order to fund all of this year's projects, town manager

Barry Amos said nearly $289,000 will have to be taken out

of the city's reserve fund.

Last year's

budget was $1.7 million, so this year's budget represents

a 41 percent increase.

The largest

increase comes in the public improvement sector, which is

up 233 percent over last year's budget.

"We're

playing a little catch up," Amos said.

Included in

the public improvements this year are $75,000 in street

improvements and $40,000 for a concession stand at

Redwine Park.

"Forty-eight

percent of the total increase in this budget is public

improvements," Amos said.

Another

large expense is an estimated $180,000 for the city to

purchase 18 acres for a new administrative complex and

recreation office.

Councilman

Ray Bogenschutz agreed with the land purchase.

"This

is an opportunity to do something for the community. For

once, we're looking progressively forward," he said.

Amos said

the town also figured growth in services to new residents

moving into town in this year's budget. If you eliminate

the growth factor and the public improvements increase,

the budget would have increased only 7.1 percent, he

said.

The town

also has budgeted $8,000 for new carpet in the current

administrative complex, which Amos pointed out is

"coming apart at the seams."

The council

is set to vote on the budget at its June 17 meeting at

7:30 p.m.

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