The Nisswa City Council met Wednesday, Aug. 30, to look over an initial draft of the 2018 budget. The council went through each department's budget and asked questions or sought clarification on various line items.
Mayor Fred Heidmann was absent.
The preliminary budget totals $2,657,968, which is $114,683 more than this year's budget, or 4.51 percent higher.
Jenny Max, city administrator/clerk who just started her job with the city Aug. 21, reminded the council in a memo that the budget numbers are very preliminary. She wanted to gather initial input from council members regarding big-picture goals they want to see implemented in the final 2018 budget.
The council must set a preliminary tax levy by Sept. 30. That levy number can then be decreased, but not increased, before final adoption of the levy and budget in December.
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Max said in the memo that she and staff will continue to work on the budget and present revisions over the next few months for council members' continued review and feedback.
The council was to meet at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, to look at revised budget numbers. One area of revision will be for city staff salaries and wages. The city is in the midst of changing salaries and wages according to what is outlined in a compensation study the council adopted last year that strives to get all staff in compliance with current market rates.
The council agreed to consider years of service for staff in compensation as well, and was to look at adjusted salaries and wages Sept. 6.
