The Green River City Council approved its annual budget Tuesday night, approving a series of proposals setting fees, wages and budget appropriations for the coming fiscal year.
The city’s general fund totals $16.17 million. The police department will receive $4.39 million, the fire department is set to receive $796,921, the community development department will receive $934,526, the parks and recreation department is budgeted to receive $4.42 million and the city’s general government is budgeted at $3.08 million.
For city utilities, the Council approved an increase to the consumption fee for the wastewater fund. Mark Westenskow, director of public works, said the increase is part of a 10-year utilities fee plan and is designed to help generate funds to pay for the city’s planned wastewater treatment center.
“This allows us to build the fund,” Westenskow said.
The center will eventually replace the sewer lagoons the city currently operates. Westenskow said the increase will result in an estimated $4 increase for the average household’s wastewater bill.
A last-minute change to fees charged by the Green River Recreation Center will result in a small savings to seniors.
Councilman Allan Wilson proposed a change that decreases daily, monthly and yearly fees for residents between 60 to 79. The daily admission fee drops from $3 to $2, monthly pass decreases from $15 to $12 and a yearly pass drops from $150 to $125.
Wilson later complained about the budget process the city used this year, believing the Council wasn’t given the complete budgetary outlook until a workshop meeting where a draft budget was presented to the Council. He said the Council had hosted several budget workshops in past years to work out individual sections of a proposed budget. He also said he had to talk with members of the finance committee to find out what was happening with the city’s budget process, saying he shouldn’t have to do that.
Councilman Gary Killpack said he’s happy that a budget including provisions like a 2.5 percent wage increase to city employees still comes out with a small budget surplus.
“It’s not perfect, but it’s awful close to being perfect,” Killpack said.
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