As befits an election year, Mayor Nancy released a budget Monday that is unlikely to offend anyone. There are no cuts to Athens Transit or Leisure Services programs, nor is there much beyond the status quo.

The total operating budget—the part funded with tax dollars, as opposed to fees like water, sewer and trash—is $108.7 million, up $2.6 million over the current fiscal year and $4.7 million since Denson took office in 2011. Overall, Athens-Clarke County will spend $199 million in fiscal 2015.

The property tax rate under Denson's plan will remain unchanged at 13.95 mills. However, property values are starting to rise again, so some homeowners will have higher bills, and water and sewer rates will go up about $4.58 a month for the average household. In addition, there's the new one-time tax payment for vehicles that will net Athens-Clarke County about $1.7 million.

Some of the noteworthy new expenses include:

• $2.2 million to give county employees 2.5 percent raises and an additional $920,000 for performance-based raises.

• a $50 per month increase in pension benefits for retirees, costing $450,000.

• $200,000 for a transit study.

• $740,000 to fund 18 public safety positions that were previously funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (aka the stimulus) and the federal Violence Against Women Act, which also has been cut.

• $270,000 to hire eight new deputies for nine months at the expanded Clarke County Jail, which is expected to be completed in fall 2015.

At least two public hearings will be held on the budget: at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 8 and Tuesday, May 13 at the Dougherty Street government building. A third on Thursday, May 15 will be held if necessary. Public comment also will be accepted at the Thursday, May 22 agenda-setting meeting, and the commission will approve the budget Tuesday, June 3.

The next time someone asks how Tim Denson would pay for X, remember that if were mayor now, he would've had a couple million dollars that he could be spending with no corresponding cuts or reduction in service. Not that I'm saying employees and retirees don't deserve more money, but now that the economy is a little better, there will be money to play with.