City Commission approves 2013 budget using $534,000 from surplus savings account


The Mount Pleasant City Commission approved a balanced budget on Monday at its last meeting of the year.

Back in October, the first draft of the 2013 operating budget had a $500,000 gap. City Manager Kathie Grinzinger said this budget will be balanced by using about $534,000 from the surplus savings account.

“Even with this transfer, the rainy day fund still holds $1.5 million to use in case of emergency,” Grinzinger said.

The budget also calls for no new milage increases and no service or staff reductions.

Commissioner Jon Joslin voted in favor of approving the budget but not before raising a few issues he still would like to resolve.

Some budget discussion points, he said, such as the deer herd management program, were brought up briefly in meetings, and followed by no decisive action.

“Very minor when you look at magnitude of this budget, but unfortunately when you start adding up all these little minor pieces, they can start to add up,” Joslin said.

The commission is still waiting for data on the program, Mayor Bruce Kilmer said.

Commissioners agreed as numbers come in for the program, the budget could always be amended if deemed necessary.

Commissioner Sharon Tilmann said she prefers to have everything settled before passing a budget, but she knows budget is a fluid document.

“I feel fine approving this, noting that there are two or three issues we need to come back and look at,” Tilmann said. “And I don’t see a problem at all with carrying them over into the new year and getting the information we need to make better decisions.”

Vice Mayor Kathy Ling also said she felt these discussions that have been brought up need to continue into 2013.

The commission’s next meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 14.

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