Gonzales City Council discusses budget for fiscal 2024

Discussions for the 2023-2024 budget have begun for the Gonzales City Council with a special called meeting held Wednesday, July 26.

Several different departments were in attendance to discuss their proposed budgets to the council, and most of them will have the same budget as last year, but there is increase for travel for training.

“Training is what is going to make us more successful. I'm a firm believer that our employees need to be trained, because it does provide a better service to our community,” Gonzales City Manager Tim Crow said.

Main Street, the Parks Department, the Golf Course, and City Secretary’s office have also requested an increase in travel for training.

Crow said this year’s budget will include a $1 per hour salary increase for employees and an increase in contributions to employee’s retirements from five percent to six percent.

“It will help us in employee retention, and the longer we can keep our employees, the more efficient we become. That also equates to a better service to the community so that's also figured into this general fund budget as well,” Crow said.

Crow mentioned the building inspector, which will no longer have a full departmental budget because the city is working with a company on contract. 

“Finding a building official is almost an impossible feat. Right now, the private sector are hiring them out as fast as they come along,” Crow said.

“We're looking at not eliminating the position, just not funding for now. And if we wind up with an opportunity where we had a good qualified candidate come in, we might look at refunding that position,” Crow added.

The council went over the Master Rate Fee schedule in the second part of the budget meeting Thursday, July 27. 

More about the second part of the meeting, including the master rate fee schedule, will be followed up on in the Aug. 10 edition of the Gonzales Inquirer.