Cost increases forcing hard decisions

Moorcroft's council and department heads met for their first two discussions of the coming budget for the 2022/2023 fiscal year in the days before Monday night's meeting.

Office and employee items increasing in cost this year include Caselle and Code Red rates as well as health insurance; clerk/treasurer Cheryl Schneider anticipates a possible raise in property insurance as well. "I would not be surprised if we see that increase."

Chemicals will also be going up roughly 35% in the coming year, according to public works director Cory Allison. "I went ahead and bought next year's now at the rate we paid last year, but just so you know, next year, that's going to be quite a little higher." Allison assured the group that, of his suppliers who provide the needed chemicals, this one is the cheapest. "When I call them, it's because they're the cheapest, I've looked around."

To this point, council has actively begun seeking areas where they are able to cut to cover these upsurges.

Engineering funding has been cut and legal attendance will be mitigated to an as needed basis; Councilman Paul Smoot advised an examination of labor as well, "Try to keep the same guys you have, but they might be working some overtime. It would be cheaper for you to pay a little over time than hire another body... Everything is going to be about 30% higher."

Good after bad

An annual drain of ever increasing increments (almost $50,000 last year) is the MTC. This year, because of the unsettled future of the enterprise, Allison told the governing body, "I don't know what we're doing and until I know, I really can't do a budget. Whether we're keeping it, moving up there, selling it... I can't put a budget together until I know what we're going to do."

The group will entertain another workshop to further discuss the MTC, but at this time they allotted the same moneys as last year.

Smoot opined, "We're moving the right direction up there by working on the part of the asset that's worth the most. I think that's where we need to start and stop throwing good money after bad (subsidizing). I think we're on the right track there." Mayor Ben Glenn agreed "100%".

What's right is right

The council also plans to apply the ordinance to the property owners in town who do not pay water and sewer accordingly. Smoot advocated, "There's revenue out there we aren't even addressing right now. We have people who are basically getting that for free. The investment fees and all that, some people are not paying for them and I think the playing field needs to be leveled a little bit better."

Smoot, who owns a RV park pays for five lots and the mayor, who agrees that these ones should pay their actual due, pays for two properties according to that same law. "I think," opined Glenn, "We're all on the same page, right's right and wrong's wrong. Everybody needs to pay their share."

"If everyone doesn't pay," Schneider, speaking as a homeowner, added, "those who do, pay more."

And saving for the rain

The treasurer also advised following the counsel of Deidre Budahl, the auditor from Casey Peterson and Associates, "I think it would be in the town's best interest to set a reserve policy and always have at least three months worth of funds in that reserve account to pay for any expenditure – anything can happen. It's being fiscally responsible. You don't just hear it at your local audit, but at your state level audit."

Smoot suggested, "Literally, three percent cut in every single budget line... I think that with the changes we've made and how we've kind of done things differently, we're on the right track from my perspective. I don't think we should get too crazy. Make small little cuts and see what those are going to look like at the next meeting. At least we're going to have a cash fund in case we need it.

The Council will conduct another budget meeting Thursday, April 21, at 6 p.m.