EGF closing in on 2022 budget plan

The clock is ticking for East Grand Forks leaders to approve a 2022 operating budget for the city.  The council last night (Tuesday) asked staff to develop a spending plan that holds the local levy at either 4 or 5 percent.

Council member Mark DeMers says he favors the lower level and spending dollars in the budget reserve to balance the books.  DeMers says he’s not a fan of building up cash without a purpose.

Council member Brian Larson says he can live with a 5% levy next year.  “Leave the reserves where they should be…around 52% as a goal we have had…and cut the rest out of operating expenses in the 2022 budget.  I feel if we don’t look at cutting costs out of expenses and just taking it all out of reserves we are just pushing the hard decision forward into the next year.”

The tax levy can differ from the final property tax rate.

Staff will rework the numbers prior to a “Truth and Taxation” hearing on December 7th. ex