The city council hosted a public hearing Tuesday after its regular meeting to discuss the proposed 2024-25 budget.

Finance Director Dawn Miller said key provisions of the proposed budget are:

• The property tax dollars requested last year remain the same, just under $7.6 million.
• A 9.69% reduction to the city’s levy to 36.2 cents per $100 (0.362423).
• A 2.8% cost-of-living raise to employees. 

The budgeted general fund revenues total nearly $39.9 million, reflecting a 4.7% increase from last year’s budget. This increase is attributed to leftover cash balances and income from the projected sales tax.

On the other hand, the general fund’s budgeted expenditures total $37.1 million, also nearly a 4.7% increase from last year. Notably, 75.8% of the general fund’s expenditures are allocated to the police, fire, and public services.

The proposed 2024-25 budget total, which includes the general fund, cash reserves, Municipal Light and Water, and all other funds, is $287.5 million, up 10.2% from last year. The breakdown is $37.1 million for the general fund, $12.6 million for cash reserves, $125.6 million for Municipal Light and Water, and $112.3 million for the other funds. 

Miller said city administrators will ask the council to approve a 1% increase in allowable growth, which will require a 75% majority vote. This is in addition to the 2.5% allowable growth in most funds, including sales and property taxes, motor vehicle taxes, and other fees. Miller said the 1% increase has been approved for the past three years.

Police Chief Steve Reeves said Lincoln County Attorney Rebecca Harling approached him about the juvenile assessment and diversion program, which has been funded by a grant from the Nebraska Crime Commission. The program has an increase in expenses and wages and a decrease in grant funds.

Reeves said the cost that parents pay for the program has increased, and with the increase, they are seeing a decrease in participation in the program. Harling said they need an additional $20,000 to fund the program. Reeves said Harling was going to be asking the county for help as well as the city. 

City Administrator Layne Groseth said the budget has enough available cash reserves to help with that program this year. He said they will need to look at different things in the future, but this year is doable. The council members all seemed to favor helping with the program.

The budget will remain a work in progress until Tuesday, Sept. 10, when the city council will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. to adopt it. 

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