Town of Meeker Trustees got a glimpse of the 2023 draft budget Tuesday for preliminary discussion. The budget will be presented to the public in October. The draft budget includes a wage increase for staff to keep up with cost of living. Increases in health insurance, retirement, etc., indicate higher numbers for personnel overall. Other items budgeted to increase include electricity, fertilizer, fuel, natural gas and more, in line with inflation.
The town continues to seek grant funding, but doesn’t budget for that revenue.
Town Clerk Lisa Cook said they’ve budgeted revenue projections conservatively. An increase in sales and use tax, mainly due to the collection of taxes from internet sales, is up about $20K this year from last year.
“We look pretty good this year, surprisingly,” Cook said, the result of not completing some capital projects this year, working hard to stay under budget in all departments, and some windfalls in the form of American Rescue Plan funding and mineral severance tax monies.
Two bids for electrical upgrades at the town shop were opened, one from Ducey’s Electric and one from Taylor Electrical Services, LLC. Public Works Superintendent Russell Overton will review both bids before the board awards the project at the next meeting.
Town Manager Mandi Etheridge provided some clarification on the ongoing discussion about updating the lease agreement for park maintenance with the Eastern Rio Blanco Metropolitan Recreation and Park District. The rec board was also scheduled to meet Tuesday to review amendments to the lease agreement.
By NIKI TURNER – editor@editorht1885.com
