Street work and wastewater plant boost Granite Falls spending plans

By Leslie Moriarty

Herald Writer

GRANITE FALLS — A street project and expansion of a wastewater treatment plant are among the items that will be funded in the 2002 budget in Granite Falls.

The proposed budget is being drafted by city clerk Gerry Jones, and council members have been in the process of reviewing it for a few weeks.

The public can comment on the proposed budget at public hearings at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 26 at City Hall, 206 S. Granite Ave.

The total expenditures in 2002 are listed at $6.1 million. General fund expenditures are expected to be $1.1 million. Other expenses are streets, library, water and sewer funds, storm drainage, solid waste and equipment.

Compared with last year, the general fund is going up from $950,000 this year. The total budget last year was $4 million, a third less than the anticipated 2002 budget. That amount, however, includes federal, state and local grant funding for street, parks and wastewater projects.

The city council is expecting to raise property taxes by 1 percent as allowed by a recent state initiative. The budget plans a

3.5 percent cost-of-living increase for city employees.

Among the projects planned for 2002 is the rebuilding of Stanley Street from Granite Avenue to Indiana, including sidewalks. The project is funded partly by a state transportation grant, a community development grant and city money.

The city also plans an expansion at its wastewater treatment plant funded through a public works trust fund loan and city money.

Improvements at Lake Gardner Park also are anticipated. That project will be funded through a county neighborhood improvement program.

There are no proposed new positions, and there are no anticipated layoffs.

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