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Home   >   News   >   Local News   >   DMCo Board Continues Budget Work; Franchise Fees in Burlington, WB Would Mean Bigger Loss Than Expected

DMCo Board Continues Budget Work; Franchise Fees in Burlington, WB Would Mean Bigger Loss Than Expected

By on February 20, 2013

THE DES MOINES COUNTY BOARD TALKED ABOUT NEXT YEAR’S SPENDING PLAN AGAIN YESTERDAY(TUE), AND BUDGET DIRECTOR CHERYL MCVEY HAD SOME BAD NEWS. 

IT SEEMS THE COUNTY WILL LOSE ABOUT A-HUNDRED-THOUSAND-DOLLARS-MORE THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT…NEXT YEAR…IF BURLINGTON AND WEST BURLINGTON APPROVE FRANCHISE FEES ON GAS AND ELECTRIC BILLS.  MCVEY TOLD KBUR NEWS THAT THE STATE REVENUE DEPARTMENT APPARENTLY THOUGHT IT WAS TALKING TO SOMEONE FROM THE CITY OF WEST BURLINGTON, WHEN IT GAVE HER A FIGURE OF $30,000. 

ON THE SAME FRONT, FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE BATTERED WOMEN’S SHELTER AND STEAMBOAT SENIOR CENTER WILL BE INCLUDED IN NEXT YEAR’S BUDGET, BUT THEY WON’T GET THE MONEY UNLESS THE COUNTY’S FINANCIAL PICTURE IMPROVES.  AND CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE UNION EMPLOYEES IS A VARIABLE THAT COULD MEAN AN ADJUSTMENT.   MCVEY SAYS THE BUDGET CONTAINS ABOUT $60,000, ENOUGH FOR A 1% RAISE.  BOARD CHAIRMAN TOM BROEKER WILL BE IN TALKS WITH THE UNION REPS AGAIN TODAY (WEDS).