CITY COUNCIL FINALIZES BUDGET CUTS

THE SIOUX CITY COUNCIL HAS PUT THE FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE CITY'S OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR THAT BEGINS JULY 1ST.

COUNCIL MEMBERS PASSED A BUDGET THAT WILL RESULT IN A ONE-POINT SIX PER CENT LOCAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE FOR RESIDENTS.

THAT AMOUNTS TO A $45.00 INCREASE PER $100,000 PROPERTY VALUATION AFTER STATE ROLLBACK.

THE COUNCIL VOTED 4-1 TO ELIMINATE THE PUBLIC EDUCATION OFFICER POSITION OF THE SIOUX CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

FIRE CHIEF TOM EVERETT SAYS CURRENT P-E-O JESSE PEDERSEN WILL BE REASSIGNED OTHER DUTIES:



THE SIOUX CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL KEEP THEIR THREE PERSON DRUG TASK FORCE UNIT THAT WAS A PROPOSED BUDGET CUT. POLICE WILL ELIMINATE A FULL TIME SERGEANT'S POSITION TO KEEP THAT ANTI-DRUG UNIT IN PLACE.

POLICE CHIEF DOUG YOUNG SAYS IT WAS IMPORTANT TO KEEP THE DRUG UNIT ON THE STREETS:



THAT ALSO PASSED 4-1 WITH RHONDA CAPRON BEING THE ONLY COUNCIL MEMBER VOTING TO SAVE BOTH OF THE POLICE AND FIRE POSITIONS.

MAYOR BOB SCOTT SAYS THE CUTS WERE MADE TO KEEP PROPERTY TAXES AS LOW AS POSSIBLE FOR CITY RESIDENTS:



SCOTT SAYS THE CITY WILL LIVE WITH THE BUDGET AND HOPE THE STATE LEGISLATURE DOES NOT ENACT LEGISLATION THIS SESSION TO RESULT IN THE CITY HAVING TO AMEND THE BUDGET LATER.