Marysville City Council Discusses Budget Concerns

The Marysville City Council met in regular session Monday evening.  Included in city business was a report on sales tax earnings.  Sales tax collected for the month of January was $70,351, up slightly from January of 2009.  The council reviewed the budget status up to the current time and included a report by Rick Shain, City Administrator concerning financial issues.  In the report, Shain informed the council members that the general fund has grown 70% since 1999 and overall expenses have grown over 270 percent during that time.  Taxes levied in 2010 are $1,667,857, an increase of nearly 250 percent from taxes in 1999.  Due to increasing expenditures Shain provided the council with several ideas to discuss.  Included in these ideas were:  Imposing a 5% fee on the transmission of natural gas to customers in Marysville.  The customers are Landolls, St. Gregory’s, Community Memorial Hospital and USD 364.  An increase in building permit fees, a review and adjustment of all fees for services such as pet licenses, building permits, inspection fees, etc. 

The council approved financing $122,800 with Citizen’s State Bank of Marysville for the purchase of a new street sweeper.  The cost of the sweeper is $159,906 minus a credit for the trade-in of the current sweeper for $37,106.

The council also approved the city absorbing an increase of 8.9% in health insurance premiums for city employees.  They did defer any decision on wages until March when the dental insurance premiums should be known.