East Grand Forks leaders are looking for savings in light of the latest budget update that projects a 22% tax levy increase to balance the books in 2023.
Finance Director Karla Anderson says scheduled wages combined with hikes in workers comp rates and utility costs are piling up. The 2022 general fund budget totals some $12.4 million dollars. As it stands right now the 2023 spending plan tops $13.2 million.
Council President Mark Olstad says there’s no easy fix. “Just to kind of give it perspective…getting down to a certain percentage of 12% you are looking at cutting $540,000…it’s quite a bit.”
City Administrator David Murphy says there may be some positive news in the coming weeks. “We do have some promising feedback on health insurance. We should have something in the next few weeks…but it looks like it could be significantly less.”
The preliminary levy is expected to be set on September 20th. The council will give final approval to the budget in December.
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