East Grand Forks Looks At Budget Cuts

The City of East Grand Forks is looking at making more budget cuts because of cuts in aid from the state.

The city is expecting another $200,000 cut in aid from the state this year.

That's on top of the $420,000 the city already took out of its budget beforehand.

The city is also going to end up spending $50,000 more this year on wages because of a new payment plan.

To equal out the budget the city is looking at things like not buying a new pickup, saving money on gas, and not buying some playground equipment.

Over the last three years, East Grand Forks had one point three million dollars in state aid cuts, but City Administrator Scott Huizenga says the city is not panicking because they've been planning for the last several years.

Huizenga says, “Politically we’re supposed to say we’re in dire straights. We can’t cut anymore because we’re just tapped out. It is creeping up to that point, but I don’t want to give off the impression that we’re going to cut everything tomorrow, and taxes are going to go up by double digits. That’s not necessarily the case.”

Some good news...right now the city is on track budget-wise for the year, and despite local government aid cuts, the city came up 150 thousand dollars ahead last year.

Tags: east grand forks, casey wonnenberg, scott huizenga, lga