Palmer City Council approves 2018 budget during final meeting of 2017

PALMER — The final Palmer City Council meeting of 2017 was a short one, but its most impactful meeting of the year. The council passed its budget for 2018, heard only the regularly scheduled reports, and finished business in under an hour.

"We're just going to spend a lot of money tonight and get out of here," Mayor Edna DeVries exclaimed at the start of the meeting.

The motion for resolution 18-001 passed unanimously, and the city’s budget for 2018 was adopted unanimously. The budget increases sewer rates by 9.5 percent, as the sewer system is receiving an upgrade, and water rates by 5.5 percent. There is no change in a sales tax or the city mill rate. Total projected revenues for the city of Palmer for 2018 are $17,193,594, which is an increase of more than $200,000 from last year. The city’s planned expenditures total $16,941,198, which is an increase in more than $400,000 from last year. The bulk of the city budget is in personnel costs, which accounts for 47 percent of total expenditures. Public safety takes up 40 percent.

The police department is fully funded, as well as adding an officer to support the DEA Opioid Diversion Task Force, with additional monies coming from the Mat Su Borough and the Mat Su Health Foundation.

City Manager Nathan Wallace highlighted areas that public works affects the community. Amassing 18 percent of the budget, the Department of Public Works installed five light poles, repaired eight water main leaks, and distributed over 50 dumpsters this year.

City Councilman Brad Hanson noted many sidewalks in need of repair. The city received an ADA grant for sidewalk improvements that matches funds up to $250,000. Public works receives full funding with additional funds to pave gravel roads remaining in the city. $500,000 was spent under Capital Funding in order to help pave those gravel roads. The Department of Public Works also receives multiple equipment upgrades.

The city also voted to fund video monitoring, striking the word 'downtown' from the title, as the Bud Woods Memorial Airport is not considered downtown, but is a top priority in the live streaming surveillance. The plan requires a developed policy prior to implementation in 2018.

Palmer received an FAA grant for the runway at the airport, matching funds up to $800,000. Funds will be used for continued improvements on the runway, maintenance and snow removal.

City Hall and Fire Station 3-1 will receive parking lot upgrades. The library maintains full funding, despite some discussion at a November budget meeting about adding additional revenues to the library. The city increases Capital spending by $375,000, and maintains a general fund balance of more than three million dollars.

The council also adopted a new zoning map unanimously, and honored two Palmer Pool lifeguards who saved a swimmers life with a citation.

“I like to see when we recognize people in the community. They're lifeguards that probably never have to do this but the one time they have to do it they got it right. I like to see people who stand up instead of do nothing when something happens,” said Councilman David Fuller.

The council voted to cancel their regularly scheduled meeting on December 26. Nearly every council member beamed over the festivities of Colony Christmas in their board reports. The council will hold their next regularly scheduled meeting on January 9 at 7 p.m. at Palmer City Hall.

Tim Rockey is a freelance writer for the Frontiersman. Contact him at timothy.rockey@frontiersman.com.