From The Cortez Journal (Stephanie Alderton):
The 2017 budget, as proposed by the finance department, is $31.06 million, a 2.5 percent decrease from last year’s budget, and a roughly 6 percent increase from the revised 2016 budget. That includes the general fund, enterprise funds and intergovernmental funds.
According to city manager Shane Hale, the 2017 budget includes funds that are being carried over from 2016 projects the city didn’t finish by year’s end. The new fiscal year begins Jan. 1.
The approved budget did not include new taxes or tax raises, and the city’s mill levy stayed at 1.21 mills per $1,000 of assessed value property…
The biggest fee increase came from the public works department, which proposed to increase water rates in 2017 by 15 percent. The base rate for a residential ¾-inch water meter will be bumped from $17.20 to $19.80 per month, and tap fees will go up from $4,190 to $4,819 for ¾-inch water taps. Johnson said the increase will help his department pay for several projects in 2017, including repairs on a major water line that pumps in water from outside the town.
“It’s an investment for our customers in their own infrastructure,” Johnson said…
Water: About $3.48 million has been budgeted for 2017, up from $3.28 million, an increase of 6.2 percent.