A public hearing on the City of Sidney’s proposed budget will be on the top of the agenda during their regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 3 at City Hall.
Fee assessment includes garbage, street lighting, street maintenance, snow removal and street sweeping. Included in the budget is a rate increase for garbage from $200 per year to $250 per year or $4.17 per month. Secretary/treasurer Jessica Chamberlin explained that the increase is due to the jump in garbage truck replacement costs from $230,000 to over $400,000 per truck. The city is on a 2-year replacement program. Since it is the mechanical parts like the arms of the truck that wear out, they are now looking at replacing the bodies every two years, then having to replace the truck in another two, thereby reducing costs. “This is a huge cost increase that we didn’t anticipate,” Chamberlin said. “We have been diligent about trying to save money to pay for the new trucks and so far keeping alive but even inflation didn’t account for the increase.”
There is also a proposed $20 increase for street maintenance and a $25 increase for snow removal in the budget. The total expected increase in fees would be $95 per year or just under $8.00 per month.
Chamberlin highlighted the good things in the budget as well. Those include improvements at the tennis courts and turning part of them into pickle ball courts, something the city has been saving for. The city will be putting out a request for proposals on engineering as soon as the budget is approved. Under the new budget, the swimming pool would have concrete work and repainting done. The new water tower project is also in the budget with bids in 2024 and construction starting in the spring of ‘25. Over $1 million in street improvements are scheduled for 2024-25 which is four times the usual amount. Most will be completed this fall using federal and state gas tax dollars. There is also $1 million saved up for a new fire truck. “We’ve been saving for this for a long time,” Chamberlin said.
Voice your concerns about the proposed budget at the public hearing on Sept. 3.
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