10/19/2018- Marinette gets their first look at next year’s budget. Finance Director Jackie Miller told the Finance and Insurance Committee Marinette’s preliminary 2019 general budget is balanced at this point and she’s predicting the city will be able to increase their general fund budget by four-point-four percent over last year.
However, the capital outlay budget isn’t looking quite as fair. The City approved $330000-worth of improvement projects, but currently only has around $291000. The Department of Public Works expects an increased need for funding to repair or replace some failing equipment and the cost to furnish the new REC Center is also taking a toll on the capital budget. Additionally, the fire station’s alerting system was estimated to cost around $16000 and actually came in at about $30000.
The Finance and Insurance Committee won’t be able to vote on the 2019 budget until the City receives final Consumer Price Index figures, which Miller anticipates will come in in the first part of November. The Committee plans to meet again November 12th to review the budget and consider forwarding it on to the full common council.