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Reductions of $144,520 from the City’s proposed 2010 levy, and spending $20,000 from reserves next year will help the City of Gaylord have a levy increase of 2.89% from the 2009 levy.

Gaylord’s City Council discussed the proposed 2010 budget and levy at Wednesday’s Council meeting.

According to a memorandum from City Administrator Kevin McCann, $106,528 is proposed to be reduced in the general fund budget. Proposed reductions include – $3,500 in training, instruction, meeting and travel from administration; $1,000 in training and instruction for the City attorney; $8,000 in capital outlay, training and instruction for the police department; $36,000 in capital outlay and training and instruction for the fire department; $63,000 in capital outlay for the street department; $1,000 capital outlay for the parks; and $1,500 salaries for the Senior Center.

Among the proposed reductions are funding for radios for the police, fire and street departments. It is anticipated that a grant will be received for them. $20,000 for a fire truck is proposed to be eliminated, but if it is needed, it will be taken from reserves. $60,000 is proposed to be reduced from the street budget for a sweeper/loader, which would be funded from reserves, if needed.

One increase made to the City’s budget, with council approval, was a $7,472 increase for the fire pension contribution.

McCann has proposed to reduce the levy $17,992 by making changes in the Ambulance Fund and Fire Department Operating Fund. These reductions include $11,599 for fire department salaries which will be reduced or eliminate pay/call and $6,393 for radios for the ambulance. A grant is anticipated for the radios, according to McCann. The levy was also reduced by $20,000 with the Council’s plan to take those monies out of reserves to balance the budget.

Gaylord’s 2010 levy is expected to be a $20,709 increase from 2009. The levy is proposed to be $737,125, up from $716,416.

Earlier this fall, the City had proposed a levy increase of 23.1%. The majority of the increase is due to street and building projects, and the loss of local government aid.