Mayor Rybak to unveil budget proposal today

Mayor R.T. Rybak unveils his proposed 2012 budget this afternoon.

The mayor is expected to propose a 2 percent increase in the property tax levy, and then explain how that increase will affect the city's property owners.

The proposal assumes that a merger between two closed city pension funds with their respective state funds will be in place in 2012. City officials said the merger will save city property tax payers $17 million. Rybak has already indicated that city spending in 2012 will not increase by much this year.

That will likely mean city departments will have to shed more jobs, he said.

Of particular debate is the fate of positions in the fire department. The council recently approved a plan that would lay off four firefighters this year, instead of an earlier proposed 10.