Pawnee City auditor presents 2024–25 budget; council approves 1% allowable growth

Julie Bauman, the city auditor, presented the final draft of Pawnee City’s 2024–25 budget at the Aug. 26 council meeting, saying the proposed total budget is $4,088,716.48 and that total property valuation for the city stands at $36,031,979.

Bauman told the council the city has built reserves but the cash reserve is 25% and has declined as debt for current projects has increased. She outlined statutory limits on reserves and tax levies, and explained that the 1% allowable growth increases the city’s authority to amend the budget in the future — it does not automatically raise the tax levy. “When you develop a budget, you want to have a true picture of fiscal costs, current costs, fixed costs to see what it takes to run the City,” Bauman said.

The council voted to approve the additional 1% allowable growth for next year’s budget by roll call; all members present voted in favor. Mayor Charlie Hatfield and council members discussed a conservative approach to the levy and Bauman recommended the city avoid further capital purchases during the current budget year.

The auditor noted the city has refinanced sewer and water bonds and that the total proposed budget includes expenditures, equipment and two grants. The 2023–24 actual/estimated total was $3,627,654.76. The council did not adopt additional capital spending at the meeting; Bauman’s recommendation to limit capital purchases was accepted.

The council is expected to take no further capital-commitment actions this fiscal year unless circumstances change. The next procedural steps for budget adoption and any levy actions were not specified at the meeting.