City preliminary budget, tax levy on council agenda

By KEVIN SWEENEY

Journal Editor

NEW ULM -- The New Ulm City Council will consider a preliminary 2003 city budget and establish a maximum tax levy for the city at its meeting tonight.

The council meets at 7:30 p.m. in the council chambers at the New Ulm Public Library.

The preliminary budget calls for a 2003 budget of $12,744,898, a 7.92 percent increase over the current city budget of $11, 809,592.

The proposed city property tax levy to be considered tonight is $1,609,318 in general revenue levies, and $2,103,864 in debt service fund levies, for a total city levy of $3,713,182. Special taxing disitrict levies for the Economic Development Authority and Downtown Parking District would bring in an additional $116,102. The total city levy would be $3,829,284, according to the proposed resolution the council will consider.

In his budget message to the council, City Manager Brian Gramentz said the most significant increases come in the Police Department fund, and in the Park and Recreation fund.

The Police Department budget proposal shows a 10.58 percent increase, from $1,560,493 in the current budget, to $1,725,574. Part of the increase would be due to the hiring of an additional police investigator, purchase of a four-wheel drive patrol vehicle, addition of a canine unit, purchase of firearms and gun range equipment, and bugging equipment.

The Park and Recreation fund shows a 17.04 percent increase, from $1,802,957 to $2,110,186. That increase is driven by need to staff and operate the new Community Center and Senior Citizen Center that are being built and will be open next year.