Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council met Thursday morning at City Hall, in an effort to resolve budgeting issues with the 2020 city budget.  Discussion also included the projected 2021 budget.  All members were present.

The proposed amendment represents fund balances on hand and revenues anticipated for 2020 which were not included in the original 2020 budget.

City Administrator, Sarah Hellekson said, the budget needs to find $1.9 million to reach a $600,000 carry over figure.

Fund transfers were discussed, including transfers from the storm water, sanitation and sales tax funds, along with the city public building fund.

Mayor Heinrich said in the 2021 projected budget, $7,345,066 is in income from property taxes.

A shortfall would then be at $414,441.  He added that pending state aid funds, the deficit  would not be as steep.  State aid funds are comprised of sales and use taxes, and motor vehicle  excise taxes.

A 1.4 percent increase in health insurance premiums is proposed in the amended draft budget, along with changes in the stop-loss plan.   It includes city employees, park board, and public library, and airport employees.  No resolution on that budget has been made.

 

Revenue and expenses for the 2021 budget were noted for the Civic Center budget, along with the City Fire Department, Police Department, the Street Department, municipal court.

Also reviewed were funding requests from the General Fund budget for  the Arts Center, Beautification, and the Garden Club.

Cuts in funding requests were also noted, including The Arts Center from the 2020 budget, of $5,000 to $3,000.

Reallocation of funds were also discussed, including technology.

Mayor Heinrich said department heads will come to the council with how they propose to cut their budgets, in order to develop a plan of priorities for overall budget cuts to balance the 2021 budget.  He said raising property taxes is off the table.

Council Member Steele pointed out that a number of unknowns exist while budgeting expenditures for 2021, including costs for snow removal, and any flood related costs that night occur, along with equipment replacements due to failure.

The meeting continued with other department budget request reviews.

The next budget meeting is planned for Thursday Jun 18, at 10-a.m., at City Hall.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67.

Previously….

Jamestown  (CSi)  The City Council met in Special Session Thurs morning at City Hall.  All members were present. Council Members considered the proposed budget amendment to the 2020 City Budget.

The proposed amendment represents fund balances on hand and revenues anticipated for 2020 which were not included in the original 2020 budget.

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich said, the 2021 budget would not be discussed, except how the 2020 budget may affect it.  Changes over the last year require the amendment.  He said expected expenses incurred by the COVID-19 pandemic will have to be taken into account, in balancing the budget, along with  determining the  revenue projections.

He said, the council needs a good  idea of where the 2020 budget exactly stands, going into budgeting for 2021, including addressing no dollars currently in the reserve fund.

The transfer of funds is still to be decided regarding revenue.

At Thursday’s meeting the City Council voted to approve the vehicle appreciation fund, adjusted by $44,741 in the General Fund.

The projected year end 2020 budget revenue  is $808,770, the starting point of the 2021 budget.

The next budget meeting is set for Thursday June 11, at 10-a.m., at City Hall.

The Jun 4 meeting was shown live on CSi 67.

Previously…

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a public hearing will be held at
10:00 A.M., June 4, 2020, in the Council Room at City Hall, 102 3rd Avenue SE, Jamestown, ND, concerning the below listed proposed budget amendment to the 2020 budget of the City of Jamestown:

EXPENDITURES:
General Fund increase $87,289.00
Water Utility Fund increase $724,094.00
Sewer Utility Fund decrease $19,012.00

The above proposed amendment represents fund balances on hand and revenues anticipated for 2020 which were not included in the original 2020 budget document.
Interested persons are encouraged to appear at this hearing to ask questions and make comments or recommendations concerning the amendment. Written comments may be mailed to the City Administrator, c/o City Hall, 102 3rd Avenue SE, Jamestown, North Dakota 58401, or emailed to Sarah Hellekson at shellekson@jamestownnd.gov. Said comments will be presented at the meeting.
A copy of said amendment is on file in the office of the City Administrator for public inspection during normal working hours, 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday or on the City website under the government tab, public notices at www.jamestownnd.gov.