Manager: Accounting, safety, turnover affect city budget

McCOOK, Neb. -- The City of McCook expects expenses to grow by more than half a million dollars in the coming budget year. The 2015-16 fiscal budget approved on first reading Monday includes a $563,446 increase to general fund expenditures when compared to last year.

City Manager Nate Schneider cited three contributing factors for the increase in his budget transmittal letter released Tuesday afternoon.

Schneider attributed the additional expenses to accounting changes requested by the city auditor, safety related purchases for the police and fire departments, and an increase to unemployment claims.

"One reason for the increase is because our auditor has asked the city to place the street contribution revenues received from the various departments in the General Fund. The amount now represented in the General Fund for street contribution purposes is $221,406," Schneider wrote in the letter.

The amount Schneider referred to is reflected as previously unbudgeted revenue in the General Fund although how the change affects General Fund expenditures was unclear as of Wednesday morning.

Schneider said during Monday's budget reading the revenue was in different locations in the budget in the past.

"Another reason for the increase is the need to upgrade safety-related capital items for the police and fire departments," said Schneider.

The police department budgeted $37,000 in new capital expenditures, including $26,000 to purchase a new police cruiser and $11,000 to upgrade police software. The 2015-16 police budget includes $1,584,601 in total expenditures, an increase of $40,981 when compared to prior year.

The fire department budgeted $98,500 in new capital expenditures, including $40,000 to purchase 20 sets of bunker gear; $6,000 for SCBA quick release braces; $2,500 for fire hose nozzles; and $50,000 for FEMA radio upgrades.

The 2015-16 fire budget includes $1,082,570 in expenditures, an increase of $138,853 when compared to prior year.

"Another contributing factor is a result of unemployment claims which have not been much of an issue in years past," said Schneider in the transmittal letter. Schneider provided additional details Monday evening and said the city was making more unemployment payments due to staff turnover.