Butler City Council introduced budget and tax ordinances reducing property taxes by 1 mill.

Neither ordinance was available at Tuesday’s forum meeting, but Councilman Michael Walter said they include a reduction in the street light millage from 3.25 this year to 2.25 next year.

Lower electric bills from converting the street lights to LED lights caused the reduction, Walter said.

The total tax rate will be 42.25 mills next year, he said.

Officials said copies of the budget and ordinance will be available at Thursday’s regular meeting when council will vote on them.

Council also will vote on an employee salary ordinance and advertising for proposals for a $1 million tax revenue anticipation loan. The city borrowed a $1 million tax anticipation loan this year.

One of two motions concerning the vacant fire chief’s position will be removed from Thursday’s meeting agenda after Mayor-elect Ben Smith asked to leave the matters for the new administration that will come into office next year. He called it a professional courtesy.

Walter agreed to withdraw his motion to update the fire chief’s job description, but Mayor Tom Donaldson said he will probably leave his motion to advertise for applicants for the position on the agenda.

Ben Smith and Councilman-elect Jeff Smith will be sworn in January. Incumbent Kenny Bonus was re-elected and Councilwoman Kathy Kline lost her re-election bid.

“I have no intention of filling it,” Donaldson said about hiring a chief before he leaves office.

He said he wants council to have a “stack” of applications to review for the job.

Ben Smith said the structure of the position might change and he would not want people to apply for a job that might change next year.

In the other ordinance which was withdrawn, the fire department would play a key role in conducting inspections of residential rental property. Kline withdrew her motion after Walter said problems with jurisdiction and the fire fighters collective bargaining agreement should be resolved.

Kline said the fire department has six trained property inspectors.

Walter said council will conduct a special meeting sometime before the December council meeting to address the inspection ordinance and the fire chief job description. The date of meeting will be advertised, he said.

In addition, council will consider a motion to work with the Butler County Historical Society to return a Bantam Jeep to the city, which would give it to the Butler Old Stone House Region of the Antique Automobile Club of America.