City budget includes health insurance increase, decrease for non-profits

WORLAND — The Worland City Council gave final approval to the next fiscal budget that begins July 1, during their June 21 meeting.

The budget has general fund requirements including cash reserve, payroll reserve and computer reserve of $5.3 million. The largest budgets within the general fund are law enforcement at $1.8 million and streets at $1.379 million. The parks have a budget of $444,017, the airport has a budget of $405,401, golf course $238,800 and building department $127,097. Other general fund budgets are as follows: general government $27,377; city attorney $53,997, clerk-treasurer $67,361, engineering $26,000, cemetery $59,038, city hall $35,450, legal ads and ordinances $5,350, insurance $7,950, funds paid to Washakie County $12,800, general facility $40,340 and municipal court $51,681.

The budget approved also includes water budget of $2.4 million, sewer of $1.7 million and sanitation of $1.2 million.

Clerk/Treasurer Tracy Glanz said the auditor has not recommended any changes to the rates for water, sewer or sanitation. “They are OK for the near future.”

Glanz said the budget does include a 4.94% increase in health insurance. The city continues to pay 100% of the premiums for employee and dependents.

The budget allows for merit raises.

She said she budgeted slightly less revenue in sales tax and other distribution based on population with the census showing Worland fell below 5,000 in the 2020 census.

She said sales tax revenue has been “relatively good” but the city will have to wait and see exactly how much the population decline will impact sales tax revenues.

The city plans on using the American Rescue Plan Act funding for streets. She said the budget committee’s recommendation is to use the total funding of $872,424 to assist with Washakie Avenue project or to improve the industrial area around Fourth Street. The city has received the first half of the funding and the other half was expected this month.

The budget also reflects a decrease to non-profit organization by about $10,000 mostly to Youth Alternatives who received their grant funding again, Glanz said.