Keokuk, IA – The spending plan includes a $0.03 decrease in the property tax rate. It also contains funding for city-wide clean-ups, street lighting and repairs, building improvements, demolition work and some wage increases.
Some requests for new vehicles and equipment were rejected.
Finance Sub-Committee Chairman Doug Matlick says the council also decided to not include money for a new city administrator or for another new officer for the police department. He says, "We have had discussions about increasing the department. We were going to increase it by 3 and we decided to increase it by 2 because of budget restraints. We just don't have the money."
Keokuk's budget relies heavily on fund transfers and cash reserves to cover a six-to-seven figure shortfall. In fact, the final $20-million dollar budget is carrying a $388,000 shortfall.
Matlick says the transfers could be an issue if the economy is slow in turning around.
6th Ward Alderwoman Karole Smith cast the lone vote against the budget. She says the spending plan should have included a wage freeze for non-union workers.
Subcommittees
The Keokuk City Council has approved new assignments for several subcommittees.
-Sixth Ward Alderwoman Karole Smith will chair the Sanitation/Sewer Subcommittee.
-Alderman At Large Mark Hoyt will join the Fire Department and Sanitation/Sewer Subcommittees.
-3rd Ward Alderman Ron Payne will serve on the Streets, Waste Treatment, and Fire Department Subcommittees.
CSO
The council has formally asked the U.S. Coast Guard to weigh in on swimming conditions along the city's riverfront. That opinion could impact the scope of the city's $75-million sewer project. $75,000 was also approved for a study of how the city's combined sewer system is impacting the Mississippi River.