By Kerri Rempp
The City of Chadron is proposing a tax request of $1.2 million for the 2024-25 fiscal year, according to the first reading of its annual appropriations bill Monday.
The new fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1, will also see the city spending down a portion of its cash balance to complete several projects, said financial officer Michelle Stoke. She noted that the proposed spending authority for the year in the first reading of the budget is $17.8 million.
“I think that’s absolutely the way to go,” said councilman Miles Bannan on the proposal to spend down cash balances.
Projects planned for the year include the purchase of snow removal equipment for the airport and construction of a building to house that equipment. That project is a cost-share between the city and the Federal Aviation Administration, with the FAA picking up nearly all of the $675,000 construction cost. The city’s match will be paid for with general fund reserves.
The second reading, planned for two weeks, will see the addition of a water main project. The city will receive Community Development Block Grant funds through the Panhandle Area Development District. A private citizen, who is seeking the water project, will pay the 20% grant match funds.