×

Many Amendments Made To 2022 City Budget, Tax Rate To Remain Flat

On Monday, the Jamestown City Council approved a 2022 budget that will keep the tax rate flat next year. P-J photo by Dennis Phillips

More than 20 amendments were made to the 2022 city budget before the Jamestown City Council approved a spending plan for next year.

On Monday, the council passed the 2022 budget, which will keep the tax rate flat even with all of the changes made to the spending plan. One of the main changes to the proposed budget was to remove $195,000 in expenditures for capital projects that were going to be funded using American Rescue Plan funds.

Following the passing of the budget, Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist said he is disappointed that the council removed the capital projects, which included new equipment, vehicle and facility upgrades, from the budget. He said by not passing the capital projects as part of the 2022 budget, the council has delayed the proposed spending, which could lead to higher costs.

“Unfortunately the council didn’t act on the capital projects,” he said.

It was expected for the council to remove the capital projects from the budget that will be funded using American Rescue Plan funds. At the city’s budget hearing earlier this month, Kimberly Ecklund, At-Large councilwoman and Finance Committee chairwoman, said she would like to pass a general operating budget that doesn’t include the use of American Rescue Plan funds.

Anthony Dolce, council president and Ward 2 councilman, said the council plans to start appropriating American Rescue Plan funds next month, which could be used to fund the capital projects removed from the budget.

Sundquist said he was also “surprised” the council reduced funding to the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency (JURA) by $10,000. He said any cut to JURA impacts housing in the city.

The council also cut $43,341 from the budget by reducing salary increases from 3% to 2.5% for management salaries. Along with making several cuts, the council also increased the expected sales tax revenue by $172,781.

“Those decisions don’t come lightly,” Dolce said.

After all the changes were made, the council saved $643,568, which city officials will be able to keep in its fund balance, or savings account.

On Oct. 7, Sundquist released his executive 2022 spending plan, which includes a 0.8% tax levy increase – a $130,000 hike. According to the state Department of Taxation and Finances, the tax levy is the amount raised through property taxes.

The tax rate proposed by the mayor will remain at $23.69 per $1,000 assessed property value. According to the state Department of Taxation and Finances, the tax rate is determined by dividing the tax levy by the total taxable assessed value of all property in a jurisdiction.

The council had a Dec. 1 deadline to pass a spending plan or the executive budget will be the blueprint city officials use next year.

In other business, the council read a resolution for a local law to opt out of allowing cannabis dispensaries and consumption sites to operate in the city. Now, a public hearing will be held before the council most likely votes on the opt out option at its next meeting Monday, Dec. 20.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today