The Murfreesboro City Council has spent the last few weeks trying to figure out how it's going to charge you more for possibly fewer services.

If you haven't heard, the city budget is a few dollars short and the council to looking at different ways to fill the funding gap. Some suggestions include a solid waste disposal fee, a monthly charge to use St. Clair Senior Center (they decided against this), laying off a few people, raising property taxes and adding another layer of middle management with an unknown cost.

Wait, that last part is about how they are planning to spend money they don't have.

The state certified Murfreesboro's tax rate at $0.9494 per $100 of assessed value, which about 20% less than last year's rate of 1.2066.

RELATED: News of the Week: Are your taxes going up?

The City Council held the last of its special meetings (it lasted four hours, god bless them) to discuss the budget Wednesday night.

The city's proposed general fund expenditures increase $8.25 million or 5.12 percent while revenues only increase 2.42 percent from FY 2017-18 budgeted amounts. The way the budget is currently written, it balances with use of the fund balance.

But city administration thinks there is a more long-term solution to the problem with more fees (solid waste fee, a hotel/motel tax increase, and development impact fees) and reduced spending including (laying people off and delaying capital projects).

The City Council is meeting tonight to hold public hearings and discuss the budget. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 14 in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

This is your one and only chance to ask them about the budget.

In other news, Rutherford County will have to dip into its fund balance to balance its budget. But Mayor Ernest Burgess told the Murfreesboro Post the county's finances are "strong."

After the 2018 reappraisals, real estate value increased 30 percent across the county. This increase will push down the county's certified tax rate from $2.68 to $2.099 per $100 of assessed value.

According to Property Assessor Rob Mitchell, Smyrna's certified rate is $0.7007, La Vergne's is $0.7585 cents and Eagleville's is $0.5570 cents.

Other Stuff

Candidates for Murfreesboro City Council discussed the main problems facing the city and what they would do to fix them. Read Broden's report on the forum.

Some MPD officers will be trained in using NARCAN, which is used to prevent opioid overdoses, according to WGNS.

Once the Murfreesboro Transit Station is built on West Main Street, the city could add more Rover routes.

Coffee County issued 181 Citations during Bonnaroo 2018, which was down from the more than 200 written in 2017. Manchester Police added another 200 citations. And 45 music-loving patrons were arrested over the weekend, according to WGNS Radio.

Michelle Willard is a freelance journalist who fills her days with social media marketing, politics, true crime, and taking complaints. You can complain to her on Twitter @MichWillard or by email michelle(at)murfreesborovoice.com.