BRITTON COUNCIL: SPECIAL MEETING BEFORE BUDGET READING

    The Britton City Council met for a special meeting on Monday night ahead of their regular meeting in November where they plan to conduct the first reading of the next fiscal year’s budget.
     After struggling to balance the budget, the group discussed some additional changes before the first reading, though it still may be amended later. 
    On the revenue side of the budget, changes like adding a $5 fee to use the rubble site would be added. Swimming lessons prices would increase to $60. 
    In expenses, budgeted special meetings will be decreased to five. The city will budget less for contingency and cancel their shred and rug services. They will forgo paying for gas and utilities for the fire department as well as utilities for the Community Transit building. Pool hours will be reduced to no evening or weekends. The library will eliminate two staff positions and plan to decrease costs and supplies. 
    In contributions to organizations, Finance Officer Jennifer Athey was able to move things around so the contribution to GLAD will come out of the Revolving Loan Fund, not mainly out of the general fund. The Event Center will also largely be funded from the Municipal Gross Receipts tax, which also freed up more general fund space. Contributions to other organizations were not discussed at the meeting so will have to be discussed before the first reading of the budget in November. 
    There was still some concern about the water department’s budget being tight, but it was noted that the water rate increase will eventually help alleviate that. 
    The next council meeting will be Wednesday, November 13 at 6:30 p.m. (Note the day change due to Veterans Day).