Common Council approving the 2016 city budget with the tax rate remaining at $1.79. City Manager Jeff Trail says it was a challenge to come up with something that most councillors could live with, especially when revenue gains are flat but expenses keep going up.
Councillor Greg Norton voted for the budget but he doesn’t sound all that happy. He accuses some of his fellow council members of digging their heels in and refusing to accept even modest cuts to the police and fire departments. Norton warns their budgets are becoming unsustainable.
Only Councillor Bill Farren voted against the budget, saying the city is borrowing too much money.
