Mayor Wanda Williams presented the city’s 2024 proposed budget to City Council on Tuesday.
Harrisburg’s annual budget approval process kicked off on Tuesday, as the city presented a balanced spending plan for 2024.
At a City Council legislative session, Mayor Wanda Williams shared her proposed general fund budget of $109.4 million, which includes investments in infrastructure, public safety and parks and recreation.
The spending plan does not include a property tax hike.
“I strongly feel that this document presents the best path forward,” Williams said. “We have the opportunity with this budget to move the city of Harrisburg forward.”
In total, the budget equals $150.7 million, including the general fund budget and the $21.1 million neighborhood services fund budget, among others.
According to Williams, the budget would prioritize projects like street paving, additional upgrades to city parks and the hiring of 10 new police officers.
The city will also start to spend federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money on projects like renovating the Hall Manor pool and funding affordable housing development and home repairs for low-income residents.
The proposal does include a $3.23 increase for residents’ monthly trash bills, making the cost $35.57 per month. The rate has not changed in over a decade, Williams said.
Williams said that the increase was needed to help balance the budget, citing issues like inflation and the fact that many state Capitol workers have not returned to the office as areas of lost revenue.
“Charging an additional utility cost is not what I wanted to do,” she said. “However, we feel this is the best business decision we can make with how hard inflation and rising costs have hit our bottom line.”
Council will hold budget workshops at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 5, 6, 12 and 13 and is slated to vote on the 2024 budget on Dec. 19.
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