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Broken Bow council reviews 2024–25 budget; health insurance and Eagle Crest updates noted
Summary
City staff and the auditor reviewed changes to the proposed 2024–25 appropriation, highlighting revised Eagle Crest infrastructure numbers, updated Department of Transportation payments, a bucket-truck repair increase and higher health-insurance costs tied to full staffing and joining the Pareto Health Captive.
The Broken Bow City Council held a budget hearing Tuesday evening, Sept. 24, 2024, in the Broken Bow Municipal Auditorium to review updates to the proposed 2024–25 appropriation. Mayor Rod Sonnichsen presided; councilmembers Russ Smith, Luke Wassom, Chris Myers and Paul Holland were present.
Jeff Oeltjen, CPA with Dana F. Cole & Company, LLP, outlined the 2024–2025 Appropriation Bill and told the council that several line-item changes in the current draft differ from the previously published budget and would require a republished Notice of Adopted Budget if the council approves them. "If they are approved tonight, the city will republish a Notice of Adopted Budget with those changes," Oeltjen said.
City Administrator Dave Schmidt flagged infrastructure updates, including revised Eagle Crest project numbers, and noted an increase in the electrical department’s equipment repairs budget to account for bucket truck repairs. City Clerk Jennifer Waterhouse clarified that estimated state Department of Transportation payment figures were updated as recommended by Dana F. Cole and explained the mechanics of the adjustment.
Waterhouse also explained changes to the health insurance line items, attributing the increases to shifts in personnel, rising health-care costs, past misunderstandings about how certain figures were categorized and the city’s decision to join the Pareto Health Captive. "The change in numbers is due to shifts in personnel, rising costs, past misunderstandings about how the figures were categorized, and joining the Pareto Health Captive," Waterhouse said.
Councilmember Chris Myers said the city is "for the first time in many years fully staffed and with that we should expect to see a rise in healthcare costs." Councilmember Paul Holland added that health insurance costs are rising along with other insurance lines.
Mayor Sonnichsen thanked city staff, department heads and Dana F. Cole for their work preparing the budget. No public comments were offered during the hearing. A motion to open the hearing was approved by roll call at 5:02 p.m. (moved by Luke Wassom; seconded by Paul Holland; voting aye: Russ Smith, Luke Wassom, Chris Myers and Paul Holland). The hearing was adjourned at 5:36 p.m. after a motion by Paul Holland and second by Chris Myers; the roll call vote was unanimous.
The council did not record formal adoption of the appropriation in the hearing transcript; staff told council members that if the council approves the line-item changes, a Notice of Adopted Budget reflecting those updates will be republished.
