Broken Bow City Council adopts 2024-25 budget, raises minimum wage to $13.50 and approves street plan

The Broken Bow City Council on Sept. 24 approved the city’s 2024-25 annual appropriation ordinance, a wage ordinance that raises the minimum hourly rate to $13.50 beginning Jan. 1, 2025, and adopted the One and Six Year street plan, along with several routine resolutions and policies. All recorded votes were unanimous.

The actions set the city’s spending plan for the coming fiscal year and finalized the property tax request for 2024-25. Councilmember Luke Wassom moved to suspend the statutory three-reading rule for Ordinance No. 1290, the annual appropriation bill; Councilmember Russ Smith seconded, and the council then voted to adopt the ordinance by roll call. Administrator Schmidt told the council that the only budget changes were the sales-tax infrastructure spending to reflect Eagle Crest funds, adjustments to 2023-24 health insurance lines and added electrical department equipment repair funds, and that overall percentages did not change. If the council approved the documents, Schmidt said the city would re-run the published notice with the updated figures.

Council also approved Resolution 2024-09, which establishes a policy allowing the city to pay payroll and certain recurring monthly expenses when due dates fall before a council meeting to avoid late charges. The resolution was moved by Councilmember Russ Smith and seconded by Councilmember Luke Wassom.

At 6:10 p.m. the council opened and immediately closed a public hearing on Resolution 2024-11, which sets the final property tax request for 2024-25; no members of the public spoke, and the council approved the resolution by unanimous roll call.

On personnel matters, the council adopted Ordinance No. 1291, the 2024-25 Wage Ordinance. Administrator Schmidt said the changes include "the minimum wage increase for hourly employees to $13.50 that takes effect on January 1, 2025," the addition of an anticipated Emergency Services Department Head position, and adjustments to maximum pay ranges to reflect cost-of-living increases. Councilmember Paul Holland introduced the ordinance, Councilmember Russ Smith seconded, and the council voted to adopt it after suspending the three-reading rule.

Street Superintendent Steve Parr presented the One and Six Year Plan during a public hearing opened at 6:14 p.m., saying there were no changes from the previous year. Parr highlighted Project 115 (Eagle Crest Subdivision), which he said is anticipated to be completed this fiscal year, Project 116 (a potential low-water crossing on 15th Avenue and Mud Creek), and Project 117 (potential ADA curb-ramp work in the southeast part of town). The council adopted Resolution 2024-12 approving the One and Six Year Plan.

Other routine business included approval of Resolution 2024-10 (a 1% increase to restricted funds). The meeting concluded after a closed-session evaluation of the City Administrator; the council entered closed session at 6:22 p.m., exited at 7:20 p.m., and adjourned at 7:24 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Ordinance No. 1290 (Annual Appropriation Bill) — adopted, vote 4-0; Resolution 2024-09 (payroll prepayment policy) — adopted, vote 4-0; Resolution 2024-10 (1% increase to restricted funds) — adopted, vote 4-0; Resolution 2024-11 (final property tax request) — adopted, vote 4-0; Ordinance No. 1291 (Wage Ordinance) — adopted, vote 4-0; Resolution 2024-12 (One and Six Year Plan) — adopted, vote 4-0.

The council’s next procedural step for the budget is to publish the revised notice with the updated appropriation figures; no dates for further hearings were specified in the minutes.