Slight Tax Levy Decrease Projected In City Budget

The Glenwood City Council has formally approved its budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year.

City administrator Angie Winquist said the $5.6 million budget, approved  following a public hearing on Feb. 23, reflects a significant increase in employee health  insurance and benefit costs, a 2-percent  salary increase for most city employees, several road improvement projects and a slight increase in funding for the Glenwood Public Library. Winquist noted the city currently has 32 employees - 27 full-time and five part-time.
The proposed budget is nearly $500,000 higher than the budget for the 2017-18 fiscal year, which ends on June 30, however the street improvement and resurfacing projects are funded primarily by road use dollars being generated by the state fuel tax.

Earlier this year, Glenwood Public Works Director Perry Cook announced  nearly $200,000 in road improvement projects that will be carried out this year. Some of the projects are budgeted for 2017-18 and others for 2018-19.
The budget includes a decrease in the city’s property tax levy - from 15.50 (per $1,000 taxable valuation) to 15.25.
On July 1, 2017, the city of Glenwood began collecting a 5-percent franchise fee on MidAmerican and Black Hills Energy utility bills for residents and businesses within the city limits. The fee has generated $142,000 to date.