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Harris budget lowered for 2004By Danielle Strenke At a budget work session Monday night, the Harris City Council discussed preliminary budget of $408,312 shows a decrease of 8 percent for the 2004 budget. That is down 8 percent over the actual 2004 budget. The proposed reduced levy of $270,000 cannot be increased but it can be decreased. Part of the $47,000 decrease in the levy is attributed to a budget savings of $39,452 in 2003, which will be used to cover this yearís budgeted items. Most line items in the proposed 2004 budget stayed the same as 2003 or decreased. The most noticeable increases came in the fire department and public safety budgets. The costs of maintaining older fire equipment were attributed to a $6,000 increase in that line item. ìYouíve got older equipment that has to run,î City Attorney Kevin Shoeberg told the council. He said other increases in the fire department budget are beyond anyoneís control, including the price of gas, oil and utilities. The Chisago County Sheriffís Department fees for sheriffís protection, increased from $18,000 in 2003 to $23,000 in 2004. The council discussed road issues with city maintenance supervisor Mike Kriz who proposed an increase in gravel for 2004, based on a five-year plan for maintaining Harrisís three miles of gravel roads. The proposed budget discussed will keep gravel, seal coating and crack filling amounts at the 2003 costs. Mayor Richard Hanson said seal coating was vital, because he knows it improves the road and extends its life. He asked whether some of the roads scheduled for graveling in 2004 could be delayed a year to keep the gravel budget at $25,000. ìSure, there are some roads that could wait,î Kriz said. Buisman recommended that the personnel policy include a statement allowing the city to follow whatever state employees receive per contract each year. Hanson said a modest increase for Kriz was well worth it. ìWe have paid $18,000 in one year just for pumping the lift stations,î he said. ìThat money has been saved this year.î ìI think if we can afford it, sure, but I donít know if we can,î council member Kathy Olson said. She agreed that a wage freeze may be the only realistic option. ìThree percent isnít much,î Cardinal said. ìItís cost of living.î Shoeberg said he would put together costs for offering a 3 percent increase to city employees versus a zero percent increase, and present those figures. The city will receive nearly $10,000 less in Local Government Aid (LGA) in 2004, or $82,760. The proposed budget also includes a $17,000 decrease on fire contracts, despite continuing negotiations with Sunrise Township. ©ECM Post Review |