After nine special budget meetings, the Bethel City Council has introduced the spending plan for fiscal year 2018. Currently, the FY 2018 total budget is set at $28 million. City officials will continue to provide updates to the budget.
Mayor Rick Robb said that with a new administration, new City Manager, and new Finance Director, getting the coming year's budget proposal together has taken a bit longer than usual. Instead of getting a complete budget to go over on April 1, Mayor Robb said that they’ve been working through it slowly, with new pieces coming in bit by bit.
The Mayor, Vice Mayor Fred Watson, and Council members Alisha Welsh and Mark Springer all voted in favor of introducing the budget. Council members Leif Albertson, Norman Ayagalria, and Naim Shabani weren’t in attendance.
The Council hopes to have next year's budget ready and on the agenda for the regularly scheduled June 13 City Council meeting.