The Town Council is poised to discuss a budget proposal totaling $38 million for the upcoming 2015-16 fiscal year.

That is down from $44.8 million in the current fiscal year.

The town has scheduled a budget open house for public input on Thursday, April 16, prior to the Town Council meeting in council chambers from 6 to 6:30 p.m.

The General Fund operating budget is on the table at just under $14 million, up from $13.6 this fiscal year. Increases for public safety services continue to leave a significant mark in the General Fund.

Fire and emergency medical services, under contract with Rural/Metro, are $3.5 million in the proposed budget, up just slightly from the current year.

Law enforcement, under a contract with the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office, is in the budget at $3.7 million, which compares with about $3.4 for the current year.

Together public safety costs reach approximately $7.2 million, which is 52 percent of the General Fund costs.

The other major departments operating within the General Fund include (with their proposed budgets) administration ($2.2 million), Community Services ($2.2 million) and Development Services ($1.8 million).

The Municipal Court has a proposed budget of $277,107 and the mayor and council ($80,084).

Additional special revenue funds included in the budget total $6.2 million.

These include $2.8 million in the Highway User Revenue Fund (HURF), which is funded from a state allocation, Downtown Strategy Fund ($557,886), Economic Development Fund ($314,481), Tourism Fund ($136,481), Special Revenue Fund ($1,640,000), Public Art Fund ($15,000), Court Enhancement Fund ($80,615), the new Environmental Fund ($639,241 from a fee collected from residents) and Cottonwoods Maintenance District ($4,043).

Debt service, which includes general obligation bonds, Eagle Mountain Community Facilities District and the Municipal Property Corporation, totals $3 million.

There is $2 million in general obligation bonds, which includes the Saguaro Boulevard reconstruction project.

The Capital Projects budget for the coming year is at $14.2 million.

Major projects in that budget include the continuation of the Saguaro reconstruction project as well as some costs from the Shea Boulevard improvements.

The proposed Fire Station No. 2 relocation remains in the capital budget and has been increased to $3.6 million.

There is $1.1 million in capital funding allocated to Community Services for the completion of Fountain Park improvements, Fountain Lake water quality improvements and early costs on the proposed Fountain Hills Preserve Trailhead.

The major revenue sources to cover the budget include $7.3 million from local sales tax collections.

The town’s portion of the state sales tax collections is estimated at $2.1 million and the town share of state income tax ($2.7 million).

Franchise fees are expected to contribute $324,310 and building permits $257,755.

Revenues are projected to total $13.9 million.

The vehicle license tax is expected to bring in $888,838; highway user tax, $1.3 million; grants will account for $1.6 million; and the environmental fee, $540,000.

The council has scheduled budget discussions for Tuesday, April 21, and Wednesday, April 22 (if necessary) at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers. These sessions are open to the public.

Consideration of the tentative budget is set for Thursday, May 7, with final adoption and public hearing on Thursday, June 4.

A detailed budget is available for public review on the town website, www.fh.az.gov.