Five East Grand Forks City Departments Presented Suggested 2027 Budget To City Council Members

City Administrator Reid Huttunen and Finance Director Karla Anderson presented their recommendations for the administration and finance budgets. They are suggesting a $50,000 increase, mostly for an increase in salaries and insurance. They are also asking for a $20,000 increase for department computers.

They are recommending election expenses to go down since there will be no elections in 2027. There will still be $10,000 budgeted, because Polk County does charge towns for using electronic election equipment. Huttunen also says that Polk County doesn’t always charge for the equipment every year.

Police Chief Mike Hedlund presented several increases. Some of them include a $22,000 increase in education and training fees, $30,000 more in repair costs in order to work on the building’s infrastructure, and $40,000 more for vehicle repairs.

Hedlund is also recommending a $213,000 increase for new equipment. Some of the new equipment would be for things like a new vehicle, yearly payments for in car and body cams, and dispatch radio consoles and a telephone recording system. Hedlund says the cost for radio console equipment is projected to be a little higher than what it could actually cost.

City Planner Nancy Ellis presented the community development department’s budget. She says budgeting for the community development planning fund, the City Hall fund and the building inspections fund are expected to be the same as 2026.

There is also a recommended be a $3,000 increase for repairs and maintenance for the infill building, and a $7,000 increase for Sunshine Terrace’s utilities. Sunshine Terrace is an apartment complex owned by the city.

Public Works Director Jason Stordahl has recommended increases through the general fund. He’s asking for a $25,000 administrative increase, $13,500 for the equipment building, as well as $31,000 to be used for the city shop. Stordahl is expecting $16,500 in capital improvement funding that will be used for a new box plow.

City Engineer Steve Emery talked about major construction projects in 2027, which includes a project on the Point Bridge. The Point Bridge Project is expected to cost $3.1 million. The street and ADA improvements that will be made on part of DeMers Avenue are projected to cost $1.4 million. Both projects have received funds from the federal government, the state of Minnesota and city of Grand Forks.

Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jorgen Erickson presented a $65,000 request for a new pickup truck for the parks foreman, as well as a $30,000 increase to work on the slide at the city’s swimming pool.