City budget trims the fat

City budget trims the fat

Dec. 21, 2000

CORTEZ CITY COUNCIL
By Cheryl Walkenhorst

The holidays are hectic for all of us, and City Hall is certainly no different. Establishing a budget for 2001 has been a major focus of all our city departments. Certainly, from the department heads on up, tough questions get asked and tough decisions get made.

My thanks to Bob Diedrich for his appearance at a recent council meeting to congratulate staff on their budget efforts. Let me thank Hal Shepherd as well for his concise summary of the revised 2001 City Budget by departments. I will only be extracting a tidbit from it and adding my own thoughts along the way.

In the City Manager’s Department, a new desk for a personnel clerk, a table and one two-way radio are the only additions to the budget from last year. City Council’s Department, Municipal Court, and the Finance and General Service departments stay the same. The Police Department will have negative impact from the County’s decision to handle its own records, so adjustments needed to be made for that loss of revenue.

The Kennel situation remains. In Public Works, one part-time person is going to full time and the purchase of a small machine to stripe out streets were the only changes.

Parks and Recreation is eliminating one position in exchange for another and has the Inline skate and hockey program as its only capital project with grant funding to be used to help offset costs.

The new library, scheduled to be completed in 2001, saw increased in the budget for utilities since we are doubling the size of the building. Joanie Howland should be congratulated — she reduced costs within the library that will allow for an increase in the number of computers available to the public from four to 21.

Computer fund has one major change: a half-time computer support specialist will become full time. Because of other cost reductions, this will provide much-needed support for computer operations at no additional cost to any of the City funds.

Water fund is a continuation of 2000 without an increases in water rates. Refuse fund is holding its own with no rate increase planned for 2001.

The airport department that Russ Machen runs so smoothly is subject of course to FAA’s requests, however, it pays the majority of costs, so it’s a workable situation.

The Dispatch fund has no changes in 2001’s budget, as is the case with the Shop and Self-Insured Health funds.

My observation is your municipality spends its money on the people who live here; with care and concern that there isn’t a lot of fat. Now if I can do the same (worry about the fat) as I graze myself through the holidays, life will be good. Hope you all have a happy holiday season!