No real estate tax increase proposed, nor employee cuts.

Two more city police officers hired. A third-shift street sweeper operator who will monitor Grafius Run during rains. Funding for requests to put out requests for proposals for professional services.

These are among the requests made by Mayor Gabriel J. Campana Thursday night as he handed out, for the final time in office, a proposed $27.9 million budget for 2020. It holds the line on any new tax hikes.

It was handed to City Council, which did not comment on it before Thanksgiving break.

It kept millage at 15.47 mills, or $1,547 for homeowners with properties assessed at $100,000, he said.

Two budget work sessions are scheduled, both at 7 p.m., with the first Dec. 2 and another Dec. 4. Council has two other meetings before the end of the year — Dec. 5 and Dec. 12.

“I have great news for taxpayers,” Campana said. “We have followed a financial plan and we have wonderful results.”

Campana was upbeat as he spoke about the proposed budget.

“I am proud to say we did a good job,” he said. “This is my last budget and I am proud to state that, on my way out, I am giving taxpayers a break with a no-tax-increase budget.

“Not only will there not be a tax increase,” he said, “we actually will provide additional services.”

Asked to elaborate on those before the meeting, Campana said the city police will be getting two more officers for a total proposed police complement of 49 officers.

That is fewer than in some recent year’s past with 51 officers, but it puts more officers in uniform, he noted.

In addition, thanks to Councilwoman Bonnie Katz and others, there will be the resurrection of the police K-9 program, with Tacoma joining the force early in the new year to be handled by Officer Tyson Minier.

For those concerned about Grafius Run flooding, the mayor has included an additional employee for a third shift to monitor the run during heavy rain and to work on third shift operator jobs as part of the city streets and parks department.

The economic outlook is promising, according to the draft budget, which includes money available to hire a consultant for grant writing and pursuing funding opportunities.

Additionally, the budget has funding available for legal purposes to bring more revenue into the city through continuing with a franchise agreement with Comcast.

“The agreement will be expiring soon and will have attorney review that to help us bring more dollars into the city coffers with franchise fee,” Campana said.

Certain professional services have been in place for a time and we want to give others an opportunity to do business in the city, he said. That means there will be request for proposals options available to Mayor-elect Derek Slaughter.

Asked if Slaughter was permitted to have any input into his proposed budget, Campana said he offered but Slaughter kindly declined.

Instead, Slaughter said he would rather continue in his role as a councilman by examinging the proposed budget.

As a councilman, Slaughter or any of the other six on council, can make changes to the draft budget, Campana said.

Under third-class optional city law, Slaughter has the option to reopen the adopted budget in January, Campana said. “That is his preogative.”

Baker Tilly, an auditing firm, just completed the 2018 audit and it was a positive result of the audit, Campana said.

The city pension fund remains about 90 percent funded and expenses on health care will increase 5 percent overall on premiums for medical insurance for employees.

“Other cities our size are raising taxes this year and are distressed and we’re not, but are in sound shape financially,” he said.