By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FLORENCE - After years of big spending on a new aquatic center and skate park, this year Florence is taking a breather.

"Status quo," said Mayor Diane Whalen of the city's $25 million budget for the 2004-05 fiscal year.

"The city has accomplished quite a lot in the last several years," she said. "Now we are just watching and waiting to see how everything shakes out."

The budget contains only small projects and no new employees.

Whalen introduced the budget and gave a state of the city address at Tuesday's City Council meeting.

"We continue in the knowledge that Florence is ... a great place to work and play and our commitment is to make it even better," Whalen said.

The city is continuing to grow, she said. In 2003, there were 299 housing units built in the city, and 895 homes sold.

The city also annexed 156 acres.

But while the city is growing, revenues increased only slightly, said Finance Director Linda Chapman.

Revenues increased 1.6 percent, while operating expenses increased 6 percent, mostly because of higher insurance costs.

Payroll tax revenue increased just $88,000 over last year and property tax revenue increased $148,484.

Employees will get a 2 percent cost-of-living raise in the next fiscal year.

The budget focuses on paying the debt for past projects and normal operating expenses, Chapman said.

The new budget includes about $200,000 for finishing Stringtown Park, now under construction on Ky. 18 between Kathryn and Wallace avenues. The park will have basketball courts, a shelter and a playground.

The city will spend about $1.1 million to repave eight streets and put sidewalks along three of those: Roberta Avenue, Glen Street and Foster Avenue.

The city will also spend $600,000 on drainage improvements and $650,000 on water line extensions.

The city also continues to try to recover money stolen by former Finance Director Ron Epling, who died in October while serving a 16-year prison term.

Though Whalen never mentioned Epling by name, she said the city has recovered "the past embezzlement issues."

The city has recovered $1 million and now owns Epling's former home in Triple Crown.

Epling pleaded guilty to stealing $2.8 million from the city, but prosecutors said the figure was closer to $4.9 million.

E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com