Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Budget meetings continued Monday morning at City Hall… All members were present.

City Administrator, Sarah Helleckson continued to review the proposed budget.

Explaining a power point presentation she said, challenges in drafting the 2020 city budget.  Highlights included building up the reserve fund, budgeting for unfilled positions, funding for capital  replacements, revenue options, a city sales tax increase to raise $1.3 million.  Utility rates would be raised by five percent.   The Mill Levy required for 2020, is 136.198 mills, at $46,263.  Transfers into the General Fund are proposed at $450,000.

Also reviewed were City Fire Department insurance premiums, along with expenditures for the Police Department insurance premiums and city health insurance costs.

A new Finance & Assessment position is funded at $86,856.

A Civic Center janitor position is funded at $41, 537, some positions will become vacant due to retirements.

The City Beautification Fund is reduced to zero, the Jamestown Arts Center budget is now at $3,000.

The projected 2020 General Fund Budget income is at $8,775,094.  The 2019 General Fund carry over balance is at $877,612.

Mayor Heinrich proposed transferring $15o,ooo from the city sales tax fund to support the Civic Center, for $900,000 in funding….the proposed quarter of one percent city sales tax from the one half percent sales tax increase.  He said the transfer would lessen the need to increase the mill levy, and also provide for dollars in the Reserve Fund.

He added that with the goal of having $2 million in the reserve fund, that figure would not available for 2020 spending, which would require over $2 million dollars for that purpose.   He feels the additional funding over $2 million won’t entirely be able to be met in the 2020 budget.

Funding for improvements to the Civic Center, roof repairs and boiler replacement and addressing safety issues, will come for the separate Public Building  Site Fund.

With employee salaries, the proposed budget will include a one percent increase in the cost of living , and .5 percent in the Step increase.

The Water Utility Fund remains at a five percent increase, along with the sanitary sewer utility increase of five percent.

A five percent increase is in the budget for the landfill fees.

The budget will be further discussed at the August 5th City Council Meeting, when the Preliminary budget will be adopted.

At that time the budget can be reduced but not increased to be submitted by August 9.

The final budget is needed ready for passage by October.