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Morris City manager outlines preliminary budget guidance and capital priorities
Summary
City Manager Becca presented preliminary budget guidance including a target levy range of 3–7%, a 10% preliminary health insurance assumption, a 3.25% wage increase, and capital outlay priorities including $200,000 for capital items and a $276,000 bike-path cost-share.
City Manager Becca presented the council with preliminary budget guidance for the coming fiscal year and outlined department-level priorities. She said the city is aiming to keep the final levy increase between 3% and 7% and is budgeting a preliminary 10% increase in health insurance costs as a planning assumption. Becca said city wages are negotiating under a three-year agreement and the recommended increase for next year is 3.25%.
Becca listed capital priorities and assumptions: the city aims to maintain at least $200,000 for capital outlay; the bike-path project requires a local cost-share estimated at $276,000; staff expect to budget for hangar and farmland rental fee reviews at the airport; and the state-mandated replacement of lead service lines in water distribution remains an ongoing planning item supported so far by state grant dollars for earlier phases.
She also noted the city is still waiting on local government aid (LGA) numbers, is monitoring a pending FEMA ladder-truck grant application, and will continue to review franchise fees and utility charges. On tree maintenance and planting programs, Becca said the city has spent a portion of relief and shade-tree grants and plans additional plantings in fall.
Ending: Council received the preliminary guidance and had follow-up questions on insurance contract terms and timeline; staff will refine figures and return with detailed budget documents in coming weeks.
