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Superior council holds public hearing, approves 2013 budget with $114,000 levy reduction
Summary
After a public hearing, the Common Council approved the 2013 general fund operating budget as amended, lowering the proposed levy by $114,000 and directing a corresponding reduction in the annual landfill transfer to offset the cut.
The Common Council of the City of Superior on Nov. 7 approved the 2013 general fund operating budget as amended after a public hearing and council discussion, reducing the levy by $114,000 and recommending an offset to the expense side by trimming the annual transfer to the landfill.
Finance Director Vito said the council must act with seven votes to change the levy at the hearing stage and proposed the $114,000 reduction, paired with an immediate reduction in transfers to the landfill “as one of the quickest fixes” to offset the levy decrease.
The change came during a public hearing called by the mayor. Director Vito told the council the correction reduced the prior-year levy-limit increase and set a new maximum near 2.8 percent. After the public hearing, a motion to approve the budget “as amended” passed; council members indicated “aye” and the mayor declared the motion carried.
Councilors debated the timing and fairness of the budget process during the hearing. Councilor McKenzie, who represents South Superior, said many residents told her they did not want higher taxes and criticized late delivery of budget materials to councilors and the public. She urged the council to start planning the 2014 budget earlier and to reexamine discretionary spending such as a $345,000 parks improvement that had been approved in the Community Development Block Grant budget.
Mayor Hagen (the mayor presiding) defended the administration’s preparations, saying the executive team and department heads had worked months on the budget, made “substantial reductions” and that the only alternative to a levy increase without eliminating services would be to eliminate services. The mayor said long-term pressures — declining shared state and federal revenues and inflation on wages, utilities and materials — required the city to consider revenue increases or service changes.
Councilors and the mayor discussed next steps: more open dialogue between council and department heads, a short- and long-term plan for city finances, and an intention to begin work on the 2014 budget earlier. Director Vito and the mayor said staff would continue to identify offsets and report back to the council.
The council’s approval as amended directs staff to implement the lowered levy amount and adjust budget transfers to reflect the reduced levy.
