Logan City leaders approved the Fiscal Year 2020 budget during Tuesday night’s city council meeting.
The final number proposed and approved was $155,531,803.
“I feel like it’s a reasonable budget,” said Finance Director Richard Anderson.
Some of the adjustments this year included an 11% increase in general infrastructure spending. “We try to do as much as we can toward capital,” said Anderson. “We’ve done a very good job of investing more than we ever have before.”
“Although it is less than the optimal amount, we are headed in the right direction and making incremental progress toward our goals,” according to Mayor Holly Daines, in a statement referring to the increase in infrastructure spending.
The budget included a nearly 13% increase for health insurance premiums. “This is not sustainable,” said Mayor Daines.
“It’s way past the breaking point,” said Anderson. “It’s now just something we continue to fight. We’ve tried very hard to control those costs, but much of the reason for the increase is completely outside of our control.”
The city will also be hiring five new employees:
● Three fire employees funded through CCEMS contract increases;
● One environmental health refuse driver to help with the increased number of customers;
● One recreation center custodian who was formerly a school district employee where the city paid half the salary. It will now be paid as part of the Rec Center maintenance budget.
Some city employees, including the mayor and city council members, will see a 4% wage increase: 2% is allocated for pay for performance; 2% is for market adjustments for targeted positions. The mayor emphasized the importance of “keeping wages competitive to retain experienced and qualified employees.”
“We will continue to focus our efforts on improving infrastructure, enhancing economic development, helping strengthen neighborhoods, building a strong and vibrant downtown, and providing excellent services and quality of life for our citizens,” said Daines.