Noblesville has cut proposed spending in 2010, but officials say property taxes still will increase slightly due to a change in the way the state figures them.

The City Council approved a budget Oct. 27 that cut $2.4 million from the original 2010 proposal and used $500,000 from a cash reserve to plug a $2.9 million hole. The budget did not include a much-discussed trash fee.

“We worked very hard to cut that money and present a budget within our means,” Mayor John Ditslear said.

The city administration has been making cuts this summer and fall, including reducing overtime, freezing salaries and leaving 10 positions open.

Ditslear is worried the city will face more cuts — as much as $500,000 — when it begins making the 2011 budget next year. He originally feared it could be much higher.

The city’s 2010 budget is $73,322,931, Clerk-Treasurer Janet Jaros said. The general fund — The budget line the City Council could change at this point that includes costs such as salaries, fuel and utilities — is down from $39,889,061 in 2009 to $39,015,330 for 2010.

According to city documents, the tax rate will decrease from 1.0276 cents per $100 assessed valuation in 2009 to 1.0234 cents per $100 assessed valuation in 2010.

Residents with standard deductions on a $100,000 home would see the city portion of their tax bills increase by $5. Residents with a $250,000 home and standard deductions would see the city portion of their bills increase $23.

The increases are due to a change in the way the state figures the homestead deduction. The homestead deduction applies to residents who own and live in their homes.

The city’s rate will be combined with county, school, township and library rates to determine a total property tax bill.