A closer look at the 2018-19 Eagle Grove budget

The Eagle decided to sit down with several city leaders to help explain the process of preparing a typical new budget, specifically this upcoming fiscal year’s document, along with answering a few questions about the 2018-19 final numbers. Included in the discussion where Mayor Sandra McGrath, City Administrator Bryce Davis and Chief Financial Clerk Susan Maier.

According to Davis, the process begins early in the year by bringing in all of the departments/organizations that require city funding. “We ask them what do you need, or what would you like to see to make your job safer or more productive?” said Davis. Work sessions are held with the Council to help them understand the budget process and how specific numbers are derived at. “That’s helped us,” said McGrath. “Our hope, especially for the new council members, is to give them a greater knowledge of how the process works. They can also give their input at that time. The department heads feel they have more say in it when they can meet with Bryce. They all do a good job with their funds, but they just didn’t feel they had an active role in the decisions.”

Following a budget workshop with the full Council, a preliminary draft of the new budget is prepared. “We also see how the tax levy rate will change, what the ending fund balance will be and how our priority projects will be impacted,” said Davis. The Council then works off that information, and a public hearing is scheduled to present the proposed budget. Once it is approved, it is sent to the County Auditor for certification and then to the State of Iowa for recording. It is also published in the Eagle, and is available for public inspection at City Hall.

When it comes to making any specific line item decision, Davis stated that historical trends can be a good indication of what we can do. “For example with payroll, we can calculate based on a percentage of salaries IPERS, unemployment benefits, etc.,” said Davis.

 

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