SIDNEY -- Sidney Finance Director Lane Kizzire presented the 2023-2024 budget before the city council in the Sept. 26 meeting.

"So again, really, nothing's changed. We've been over this before. Nothing changed on the expenses from when we talked last time, $12,892,220; General Fund: $23, 779,465, Non-General Debt Services $2.2 million. That will dip, I think, next year," Kizzire said.

The budget includes expenses totaling $38,945,229. Debt Serving is $2,273,544 and Non-General totals $23,779,465. The Non-General includes fee-based services and special funds including the LB840, sewer/waste water, solid waste, water, street and electric.

"As you remember in 2019-2020 there were large budget cuts across the board as property taxes were reduced by a large amount. We lost about 25 percent of our property tax, value determination, between those two years. Cuts went very deep and we had to reduce services. We got rid of a lot of part-time people; all at the library, some at the parks. Cuts went deep back then. I just want to thank all the department heads for bearing with us and getting us through those years," City Manager David Scott said to the city council.

He said the pandemic came in 2020, with skyrocketing material costs, fuel costs and supply chain issues, and "unchecked inflation."

"We do want to be good stewards of the public funds and keep things reasonable for people. The City will address all these issues -- internal costs, energy, fuel, rising Workers Comp insurance, health insurance," Scott said.

He said the City's overall mill levy will be reduced from .0574936 to .0544621. According to the proposal, .313546 mills will support the General Fund and .231078 for bonded indebtedness. Projected sales tax for this year is $2 million, and a little more than $1.8 million for 2023-2024. Departments including electricity, water and sewer are supported by fees.

Scott said the City is working to reduce its debt. The City refinanced much of the bond indebtedness when interest rates were low, and now has an A+ credit rating. 

The City has also been awarded Rural Workforce Housing funds in the amount of $1 million with a $500,000 match; half of the $500,000 was paid by a donor, Scott said. The City was also awarded a Safe Streets grant to do a study on the city's streets and trails. The City was also awarded Certified Economic Development status and Certified Creative District status. Scott said he and Economic Development Director Jeff Klare are working closely with Northrup Grumman in preparation for the Sentinel missile project.

Projects budgeted for 2023-2024 include: Jackson Street storm water project, electric back-up generation, waste water treatment facility upgrade, and cement projects including linking the aquatic center with the walking trail.