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Lewiston council previews preliminary budget, earmarks $400,000 for Public Works building and $120,000 for cemetery work
Summary
At its May 19 meeting the Lewiston City Council reviewed a preliminary budget that includes $400,000 toward a new Public Works building and $120,000 to begin cemetery leveling and road work; officials said several increases reflect grant funding and will be finalized at next month’s vote.
The Lewiston City Council reviewed its preliminary fiscal year budget at its May 19 meeting and outlined several capital priorities, including a $400,000 allocation for a Public Works building and $120,000 to begin leveling and road work at the city cemetery.
The mayor presented a high-level revenue and expenditure overview and said intergovernmental transfers rose this year because of new grant awards. "We’ve got some grant money, and we need to get it spent," the mayor said during the presentation. The mayor said the roads increase is grant-funded and that unspent dollars may roll into the next fiscal year.
Councilors heard department-by-department details. The mayor said licensing and permitting revenue was roughly steady, property-lease income from cell tower rentals and land remains around $38,000, and Fourth of July ticketing and rodeo receipts are expected to increase. The presentation also noted a possible $1,600 figure tied to a road project; councilors agreed that engineering work will begin and spending could extend across years.
Library staff explained a modest staffing-driven increase and stressed restricted grant accounts will be tracked separately so donor and grant funds are not mixed with general revenues. "The library wanted to increase just a little," the library presenter said, explaining the bump covers director wages for additional open hours and that restricted teen-book and other grants will be accounted for distinctly.
Expenditure highlights included a small increase in cemetery wages to reflect added labor, continued funding for two legal-service line items, and planned purchases for the fire department such as spare SCBAs and tanks. The mayor said the city intends to start engineering on a roads project and would monitor spending over a two-year period.
On capital projects, the mayor said the city will fund the Public Works building at $400,000 and set aside $120,000 for cemetery leveling and roads because the cemetery is nearing capacity. Council and staff discussed funding sources and timing; the preliminary budget will be formally considered for approval at the next meeting.
There was no final vote on the budget itself at the May 19 meeting; council opened and later closed a public hearing on the preliminary figures and the council schedules a vote on the budget for the next meeting.
