City budget depends on legislature

Staples City Administrator Jerel Nelsen presented the 2017 capital improvement plan to the city council on Aug. 23, but any significant changes to the city budget will depend on whether the Minnesota State Legislature meets in a special session to pass a Local Government Aid (LGA) increase. 

Looking farther into the future, plans for a new wastewater plant and a community center addition depends on whether that project is included on a future state bonding bill.

Nelsen said the LGA increase has already been agreed on, but the state budget was vetoed so if the budget is not passed, the city will get about what they received this year.

Most items on the capital improvement plan are a continuation of equipment replacement and maintenance upkeep, or else dependent on grants. Nelsen said the street overlays and maintenance will be the same as 2017.

The council approved the capital improvement plan as presented.

In other budget news, Nelsen told the council that they will have a zero percent increase in health insurance. “That’s a pretty big deal,” he said, since some cities are seeing up to a 14 percent increase.