HUTCHINSON, Kan.— The Hutchinson City Council will go over the budget once again during Tuesday's agenda session.
The council is wanting to stay revenue neutral if possible, but an increase in costs for materials and overall inflation may provide a challenge for the council. City Manager Gary Meagher met with department heads and they were able to find more than $1.2 million in cuts to close out 2022 and for 2023.
They include holding some open positions vacant in the police department saving about $493,000, cutting $238,000 from the motor and equipment reserve fund, and making another $245,000 in cuts in department operating expenses. It also includes more than $224,000 in cuts to the street department.
The city is having to make the cuts to keep the mill levy at 41.556 mills. The cuts offset a 7% increase in valuations for 2023, pushing the city budget above the revenue-neutral rate.
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