BRITTON CITY FORUM DRAWS CROWD

     More than 60 residents filled the room last Wednesday as the Britton City Council hosted a public forum to explain the city’s budget process and answer questions about local finances.
    The meeting, which lasted over three and a half hours, was led by Mayor Clyde Fredrickson and aimed at giving residents a clearer understanding of how city funds are managed.
    (Note: This is not an exhaustive list of all the topics the meeting covered or the questions the audience asked. To view the full presentation, residents may contact the city.)
    Fredrickson began with a presentation on how the city balances its budget, emphasizing that revenues and expenses must match. He explained that while property tax revenue is the city’s second-largest source of income, other factors such as local shopping, liquor sales, tourism and the overall economy also play a significant role in shaping the budget.
    “There is no crystal ball,” Fredrickson said. “Some revenues and expenses are easier to budget for than others, but we utilize the data we have and make the best decisions based on that.”
    A portion of the evening focused on what officials called the “2023 Spreadsheet Error.” During that year’s budgeting process, tax revenue was inadvertently counted twice, inflating projected revenue by about $534,533. The error resulted in a balanced budget on paper but was based on revenue that the city was never going to receive.
    “As soon as the error was found, the city worked diligently to watch and cut expenses for the remainder of that year,” Fredrickson said. “There never was that money anywhere. We didn’t get as much revenue as we had planned for, so we made adjustments.”
    When asked why the city’s auditor did not catch the mistake, Fredrickson explained that auditors only review actual past revenue and expenses, not projected budgets. He acknowledged that more questions should have been asked at the time. “It was a mistake that should have been caught earlier,” he said.
    Fredrickson also reviewed the status of several city-owned properties, including the Britton Event Center, library, airport and swimming pool. The pool, he noted, remains a popular community attraction but operates at a deficit. “It doesn’t come close to generating enough revenue to cover expenses,” Fredrickson said. “It’s a great asset, and we have to do whatever we can to keep it open, but at the end of this process we need to get to a balanced budget.” Audience members asked about potential business sponsorships, increased promotions and changes to admission fees as ways to support the pool and reduce its reliance on city funds.
    Residents also raised questions about other properties and long-term planning. Russ Marlow asked about the unused sale barn property, to which Fredrickson replied that it was being held for future economic development and would not provide a “quick return on our money.” Emily Van Lith encouraged the city to consider a land swap with downtown property to better spur business development and also suggested establishing a park board to help with long-term sustainability.
    Brian Freeman expressed concerns about overspending, saying, “Why do we continue to spend money we don’t have?” He also questioned the use of insurance funds from a collapsed ballpark light tower, which were directed to the ball program rather than other city needs.
    The presentation also included a “Did You Know?” segment that addressed several frequently asked questions about city operations and staffing. Officials clarified that all employees, whether salaried or hourly, are required to clock in and use leave if they do not complete 40 hours. They also highlighted the demands placed on positions such as the Event Center and pool manager, who responds to inquiries outside normal business hours. Fredrickson stressed that department heads and the finance officer do not make final decisions; rather, the council and mayor determine major purchases, projects and budget cuts.
    Other topics touched on the city’s contributions to local nonprofits and the level of support Britton provides for countywide services such as law enforcement, the cemetery, the library, and recreation facilities. Councilman Tim Dahme noted that Britton shoulders a disproportionate share of those costs compared to other Marshall County communities.
    It was acknowledged that the current budget faces an approximate $125,000 shortfall. In other action, the council approved the purchase of a new server for $4,468, which comes with a four-year warranty.
    The budget will continue to be discussed, and the next city council meeting is Oct. 13.