Budget changes add dollars for cemetery roads

Assistant City Administrator Bill Cole shared with Le Mars City Council members current changes in the $16.1 million spending package.

Changes resulting from last week's Jan. 26 budget workshop include a $10,000 added expenditure for cemetery roads, a $2,000 increase in library revenue coming from county revenue sharing and the requested $5,000 for Mid-Sioux Opportunity, provided by Westmar Tax Increment Financing (TIF) funding.

An increase in water department revenue is also reflected in the budget figures as the result of $18,000 in anticipated additional revenue and an expense reduction of $5,000 determined acceptable by water department staff for a total revenue increase of $23,000, Cole said.

Included in the 2011 budget are capital improvement costs totaling $752,268. If those projects get final budget approval, they will still be subject to later council review if deemed necessary once project timelines are determined.

The budget also includes a $39,000 surplus which Le Mars Mayor Dick Kirchoff said "isn't much of a reserve" in event of needed emergency spending.

Indications were, however, that council members felt the amount acceptable at this time.

The city's budget is still balanced and will continue the current $13.75 tax levy for local residents, Cole said.

The budget will get a final council review at the Feb. 16 session.

A public hearing on the budget is set for March 2.