Crookston council schedules intensive September budget workshops ahead of preliminary levy deadline

Council members agreed to a focused September meeting schedule to review department budgets in detail and to prepare a preliminary levy by the statutory deadline. The tentative calendar set by the council calls for meetings on Sept. 8 (administration, finance, mayor and council), Sept. 10 (parks), Sept. 15 (community development, police, fire), Sept. 17 (public works), with Sept. 22 and Sept. 29 held as contingency dates for follow-up or adoption.

Council members said they wanted department heads to present and preferred to go through budgets line-by-line so each council member could understand and later explain recommended adjustments to constituents. One council member suggested meeting twice weekly if necessary to meet scheduling constraints.

During the public-comment period, resident Bishop Jensen urged creation of a citizen advisory board to provide outside expertise and transparency during budget deliberations. Council members noted existing EDA activity on housing and development but did not direct staff to form a new advisory board during the meeting; instead, they emphasized that the scheduled workshops and department presentations would inform any future decisions on citizen advisory roles.

The city’s staff will circulate updated budget spreadsheets and a schedule for department presentations ahead of the first workshop. The council also directed staff to winterize the Tri Valley building to reduce utilities pending a planned demolition next summer, a near-term step intended to lower operating costs while budget scenarios are considered.