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NB Budgeted funds move to contingencyBy Barbara Brown The money would be used in case the state decides to nix all local government aid for the 2003 budget year. North Branch could still face some major budget concerns in 2004-2005 if the stateís expected $4 billion deficit comes to fruition. Mayor Gloria Karsky said Monday night that the money the council moved during its regular meeting would remain in the control of the city. She said it would be used to keep services going for the current year if the state Legislature decides it will not pass on any refunds to cities to help provide services. Mondayís amount was about half of what the city is expected to put aside for a ìworst case scenarioî savings account, Karsky said. On a brighter note, the city should see some savings in the coming year from the engineering firm WSB & Associates. WSB has worked for the city under a contract for several years and the city recently asked them and other contracted employees to come up with ways they could save the city some money in light of its potential loss of state money. Jay Kennedy, who works the North Branch account for WSB, presented a proposal Monday night that the council readily accepted. It could save the city from paying upwards of 70 hours of Kennedyís time as well as give the city some bonus work from WSB. The firm agreed to not charge the city when Kennedy attends council meetings or work sessions to talk about project plans. Kennedy told the council Monday that in the past year, he attended between 15 and 20 meetings. Also, WSB agreed to offer each council member an orientation meeting of sorts. Kennedy said the two new council members, Kathy Blomquist and Karsky, may want to be brought up to speed on the status of the cityís projects and that veteran council members may want more details about some projects. WSB said it would offer the orientation sessions free. Finally, WSB will submit summarizations of total expenses for the city compared to what is budgeted for engineering services with each monthly invoice. Kennedy said the letter could help the city understand all WSB does for the city and whether it wants the service contract to be renegotiated. The agreement will be assessed for the 2004 budget process. The council will hold a special work session Thursday, Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. to talk about more potential cuts. Next on the chopping block could be city services and public safety issues including cutting reconstruction of the city-owned parking lot around the American Legion and serious cuts to road repairs and maintenance including dust control, graveling on shoulders and crack sealing. The items up for discussion Thursday are the ones the staff and council least want to cut, but those cuts may be required, said John Moosey, city administrator. The state normally gives North Branch what equates to about 23 percent of its general fund revenue through state aid. If the state takes away all aid, North Branch could lose $655,000. ©ECM Post Review |