Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Aug 14, 2013) — The Jamestown City Council started the 2014 Calendar Year budgeting, on Wednesday afternoon at City Hall.

At the outset of the meeting, City Administrator, Jeff Fuchs outlined the projected preliminary 2014 budget.

He said the total taxable value in the city for 2014 is $30,468,000, compared to the 2013 taxable value of $28,660,000.

The projected Mill Levy for 2014 is 98.97 Mills a decrease of 5.78 Mills from 2013.

The preliminary budget with requests and anticipated expenditures shows the city would deficit spend $905,000 in 2014.

The preliminary budget includes a 3% cost of living increase in city employee salaries, with those eligible, a step adjustment of 2.5%.

The health insurance increase is projected at 10.3%, workers compensation with an increase of 9.5%, Social Security 4.6%, and employee pensions at 1%.

Total benefits show a projected increase of $136,000, an 8.5% increase.

2014 projected wages and benefit increases are 6.1%, or $9.1 million, up from $8.6 million in 2013.

The Council also discussed a compensation increase for members.

City Administrator Fuchs said the changes would have to be an amendment to the City Ordinance.

General Fund expenditures are projected to increase by 15.8% at $7.83 million or an increase of $1.1 million.

The Jamestown City Fire Department is requesting equipment replacements, and City Fire Chief Jim Reuther indicated future requests will include water tankers, and one more employee, in light of future fire coverage as the city expands.

Jamestown Police Department, Chief Scott Edinger is requesting two additional patrol units, one marked, one unmarked, plus officer cameras, and computer software for the storage of evidence. The computer related costs may be shared with the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office and the local taskforce.

Presently the police department has five marked patrol cars, and 29 officers.

The city will continue to hear budget requests at subsequent meetings, and then began deliberating approving or paring requests.

The next budget meeting is tentatively set for Monday August 26, 2013 from 3-5-p.m., at City Hall.

Wednesday’s meeting was shown live on CSi 67.