BRITTON AGAIN FACING TOUGH BUDGET DECISIONS

    The Britton City Council met Monday evening. In addition to regular agenda items, they also held a lengthy discussion about the budget. 
    During the public voice portion of the meeting, resident Layne Henning raised a question about sidewalk maintenance responsibilities after a vehicle drove over and crushed the sidewalk in front of his home. He also asked about accountability for an individual operating a telehandler on his property. City Attorney Justin Scott said he will review city ordinances and follow up with Henning through City Hall or his wardsman, Jerome Marlow.
    The council then convened as the Zoning Board to consider two requests from Amber Schempp, who has already built a 50-by-84-foot storage building at the corner of Vander Horck and 14th Avenue and plans to add another structure to the east. The new building would include eight additional 10-by-24-foot storage units. A special exception allowing the project in a general industrial zone was approved. A variance reducing the lot setback from 20 feet to 10 feet was also approved.
    Resident Chad Hardina revisited concerns about drainage issues near 7th Street and 16th Avenue. Mayor Clyde Fredrickson said historical research shows there are no existing drainage easements in the area and the city did not alter the topography when roads were built. In the short term, the city will focus on cleaning out ditches and will contact nearby landowners to discuss restoring natural water flow.
    The council also approved 2026 liquor license renewals and accepted the 2024 city audit.
    Other topics included:
•    Overgrowth and Alley Maintenance: The council discussed complaints about tree overgrowth in alleys near 11th Avenue and between 4th and 5th Streets. Officials plan to conduct an inventory before notifying residents about cleanup requirements.
•    Water Meter Project: Discussion continued on financing for a citywide water meter replacement project. A proposed funding package would cover $375,000 over eight years at roughly $59,500 per year. The council decided to pause final approval until a detailed list of meter needs is completed.
•    Tree Ordinance Update: The council reviewed Ordinance #624, clarifying maintenance responsibilities for trees on private property and within city rights-of-way. An additional clause prohibiting residents from dumping private tree debris into city streets will be added before the ordinance is reconsidered after the matter was tabled. 
    The council also reviewed the proposed 2026 budget line by line. Finance Officer Jennifer Athey noted that the city is currently short $129,652 in the general fund and $83,272, in the water fund, which includes the water meter project. The budget includes a 3% raise for city employees, while insurance costs increased by 9.5%. The pool budget saw a notable increase of about $40,000 to cover additional operating hours. Though the council later acknowledged they might have to still find ways to cut costs at the pool.
    Overall, for comparison, 2025 expenditures totaled $2,899,443, while proposed 2026 expenditures are $3,056,770. Estimated 2025 revenue was $2,879,042, with 2026 revenue projected at $2,882,460.
    To help offset the deficit, the council discussed several ideas to increase revenue, including charging rent for city-owned properties, selling property, and raising fees at the Britton Event Center and pool. A surcharge for new water meters is likely. The sale of municipal property, including the old city hall building and adjacent lots, is also being seriously considered.
    Council members agreed to increase the sales tax revenue estimate by $25,000 in the budget, and Athey will incorporate the discussed changes into the next draft. The finalized budget will be published in the newspaper in the coming weeks, with the first reading scheduled for the next council meeting on Nov. 10.