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Hill City mayor flags police, fire costs as a top budget challenge
Summary
Mayor Dave Lang said Hill City bears a large share of local public-safety costs — about 50% for its police force and roughly 20% of the fire budget — while the city maintains two full-time officers and a public safety administrator. He said staffing and sustainment are central budget priorities.
Mayor Dave Lang described city staffing and the budget pressures of maintaining local police and fire services. "We have 2 full time police officers and and 1, public safety administrator ... that's Ron Saxon and they do a great job," Lang said, naming the public-safety administrator and noting the city hopes to retain local policing.
Lang said Hill City carries a disproportionate share of police costs relative to its size, saying the town pays "another, well, about 50% of our budget for a police force," while noting that sheriff's coverage from Aitkin County augments local response. He added the city contributes about 20% toward the local fire budget and that other townships also chip in for the county-run fire services. Lang said Hilling Township provides roughly 10% toward the police budget.
The mayor framed preservation of local police as a community priority but emphasized that sustaining staff and services depends on budget decisions. He said the matter is a recurring issue in budget discussions as the city weighs operating costs against limited local revenue.
Lang did not propose a specific new revenue source in this interview; he described the challenge and the city's intent to balance service levels and affordability for taxpayers.
