MSC News

MSC News National Headlines Sports Top Headlines CBS US News CBS Technology

Printer Friendly

Email to a Friend

Auburn Mayor Casts Deciding Vote On Funds for Airport

By John Nixon

09/11/2014

(KLZA)-- The Auburn City Council conducted public hearings on budget proposals and the levy when they met this week.

The Council approved increasing the base of restricted funds and to exceed the budget limit by one percent as allowed by state statute. Also approved was an ordinance setting compensation for officers and employees of the City of Auburn. All will receive a pay raise of approximately four percent.

A proposal to include $110,000 in the budget to help Auburn meet the required match for additional hangers and hard surfacing of the runway at Farington Field was approved on a split vote. Mayor Scott Kudrna broke the tie vote by casting a yea vote on the proposal. Voting against the measure were Council members Shaun Clark, Tom Clark and Jeff Jeanneret. Voting in favor were Council members Katy Billings, Rick Janssen and Larry Holtzman. Mayor Kudrna said the chance to utilize federal funding for the hangar and the runway without needing to raise taxes swayed him to cast a vote in favor.

The total cost to pave the runway is estimated at $2.6-million. That does not include additional hangars that are proposed. The local match required on these projects is 10-percent.

The base tax levy will be 44-cents per $100 of assessed valuation plus approximately 3.5-cents for the Mutual Fire Organization. That is the same amount as last year. The total tax asking will be $618,123. The valuation of the City of Auburn increased by just over $6, 340,000 this year.

A 15 year natural gas franchise and gas distribution system was awarded to Black Hills / Nebraska Gas Utility Company. The agreement is up for review every five years.

Council members also awarded the property and casualty insurance including liability and workman’s comp through the Nebraska League of Municipalities on a bid of $39,347. Another bid was from the Casey Agency in the amount of $47,572.

You will need to be logged in to leave a comment.

Please Login

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited.

Click here to review our Terms of Use.