Mayor's budget report

     There does not seem to be much progress in cutting the Fiscal Year 2024 city budget. The city council has left it up to the staff to cut their own budgets. Some budgets do not have many moving parts, and it will be difficult to find cuts.

   Somehow, earlier in the budget process, it was mentioned that Parks and Recreation was $15,000 under budget, when actually, the department was asking for $138,000 in new spending. This budget has been rapidly growing. This department has gone from one full-time position and two seasonal part-time positions to two full-time positions, two full-time seasonal positions, one part-time seasonal position, and an intern. Parks and Recreation used to have a budget of $150,000. In 2022, spending increased to $405,147. Spending in 2023 is proposed at $529,976; and for 2024, their proposed budget is $641,195. The 2024 budget did include another full-time staff member, which was removed, but two full-time seasonal positions have been created.

   At the council meeting on March 20, there was a resolution to approve hiring an aquatic coordinator at the cost of $8,000 to $10,000 with bonuses, and to hire an intern. The pool loses a substantial amount of money every year and the hiring of an aquatic coordinator will add an additional $10,000 to that loss. The council passed the resolution, but in an effort to cut the budget. I will veto this, and I have it put back on the next agenda for reconsideration.