Gaylord city budget gains approval, water and sewer rates increase
GAYLORD — The city will spend nearly $10.8 million in the next fiscal year that begins on July 1 to provide police, fire and other services.
The Gaylord City Council unanimously approved the 2022-23 budget Monday night. The owner of a home with an assessed value of $100,000 will pay approximately $1,136.95 or $94.75 a month in property taxes.
That same homeowner paid about $1,125 or $93.75 a month in taxes to fund the $9.8 million budget for the current fiscal year, which ends on June 30.
City manager Kim Awrey said Gaylord anticipates revenue of about $10.5 million next year. Approximately $300,000 of leftover money in the municipal street fund will be used to cover the $10.8 million.
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Salaries for city employees take up the major portion of the budget, Awrey said. Police and fire expenses are expected to total $2.1 million. A five mill special assessment for police and fire will produce about $850,000 of the $2.1 million.
Council also approved water and sewer rates for next year. The base residential rate for water and sewer service will be $27.55 a month, an increase from the current $25.40 a month.
In other matters:
Former Mayor Bill Wishart addressed the council. He resigned last October because of health issues.
"I am making great strides in my recovery," Wishart said.
He then thanked Awrey, council and city staff along with the police, fire, EMS and the department of public works.
"I thank all of them for a job well done especially in the last couple of weeks with the tornado," he said. "I am proud to be a resident of this city and I pay my taxes on a regular basis. And I expect you guys to give my money's worth."
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Wishart said he feels sorry for the families that were affected by the tornado, especially the "folks that lost loved ones" and the businesses that were interrupted.
"But when you look at the big picture two lives were lost and there was a lot of damage. But the rest of it was just stuff. We can build new houses and businesses but we can't replace those folks that died," he said.
He called on everyone to "build Gaylord back better and bigger" and received a round of applause from the audience.
Mayor Todd Sharrard also read a proclamation honoring police chief Frank Claeys who is now entering his 25th year with the department. He was hired as a patrolman in 1997, promoted to sergeant in 2013 and was appointed chief in 2019.
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Gaylord city budget reviewed, gains approval
