City passes $30m budget

The city council finalized Green River’s 2016-2017 fiscal year city budget Tuesday. The budget comes to about $30 million, which is about a $2 million cut from last year’s budget.

“Overall, $1.2 million were cut out of services somewhere,” Finance Director Chris Meats said. “Compared to elsewhere in the state, we didn’t have to cut as much.”

Meats said Green River is a little better off than other large cities like Gillette and Casper, due to their heavy reliance on oil.

“We anticipated a lower revenue than other towns did,” he said.

Overall, he said the city cut about 10 percent from their budget.

“I think everyone is feeling the economy,” Meats said.

The economy, specifically the dramatic $1.2 million drop in its sales tax revenue is a large factor in this year’s budget cuts.

The financial cuts effected every department in the city, but were able to preserve most city services, made no full-time layoffs and made minimal utility rate increases.

The rate increases include a 2 percent garbage increase, a 4 percent water increase and an 11 percent raise in wastewater. Meats said in total, the rate increases add up to about a 5 percent rate increase for the average consumer.

The city was able to maintain money granted to community services which amounted to about $198,000; less than what many of the groups have received previously, but enough to have to take some funds out of the city savings to make up the difference.

Despite financial cuts throughout the city departments, the council voted to grant city employees a 1 percent raise.

In a last-minute amendment to the city budget, Councilman Gary Killpack motioned to add longevity pay for city employees as well.

“They deserve that longevity pay, they really do,” Killpack said.

The longevity pay will include every city employee who works more than 500 hours per year and will add $25 for every year an employee has worked for the city with a limit of $500. Killpack said the longevity pay for employees has been included in the past, but not recently and would like to see that included back in the budget.

The motion passed unanimously.

Councilperson Lisa Maes sought an amendment to include longevity pay for part-time employees as well, but was voted down. Maes and Councilman Mark Peterson made the votes in favor of the amendment.

Meats said there will be an adjustment period for everyone.

“It’s going to be a really tough year for us next year,” Meats said. “We’ve been very frugal and it’s helped us tremendously. We’re not as bad as some sister cities. Over all, the process went well.”

 

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