Tuesday’s Bryan City Council meeting included a first glimpse into next year’s budget.
Interim City Manager Kean Register revealed no specifics to employee layoffs as part of plans to cut spending overall and the expectation of receiving less revenue.
Register recommended a two percent raise to police and fire employees and merit raises of three percent to other city employees.
Comments from Kean Register.
During the current fiscal year, a reorganization of the Public Works Department affected 16 fulltime and four part positions. Director Jayson Barfknecht says five were laid off. While salary savings for this year have not been calculated, Barfknecht says for next year it will amount to $1.2 million dollars.
Most of the council conversation dealt with an increase of $170,000 dollars to outside economic development agencies and an additional $123,000 to pay Bryan’s share of 911 dispatching and county-wide emergency communications system. Councilman Paul Madison wanted assurances that the increased spending was necessary. Register told Madison there was no way the city could start its own 911 dispatch service.
Comments from Paul Madison.
Elsewhere, staff has asked the council to spend $456,000 dollars on new vehicles for the police department and eliminate the downtown facade program, saving $100,000 dollars.
And Barfknecht says no rate increases are planned next year for Bryan water, wastewater, and solid waste customers.