The Cortez City Council will consider approving a first reading of the 2018 budget after hearing another round of funding requests at its Tuesday meeting.
The council workshop will begin at 5:30 p.m. and feature requests from nine city departments. During the regular meeting, which starts at 7:30 p.m., the council will vote on a first reading of the budget and a date for the public hearing on it. The tentative date for the final vote on the budget is Dec. 12.
During the council workshop, representatives of the Colorado Welcome Center, the financial department, the city clerk’s office, the Cortez Public Library, Cortez Municipal Court, the human resources department, the police department and the public works department will present their budget requests. Public works director Phil Johnson presented most of his budget requests in October, but he will continue a discussion on a possible water fee increase during Tuesday’s workshop.
The council has several items related to next year’s budget on its regular meeting agenda, including an ordinance that will approve the budget’s first reading, tentatively set the 2018 mill levy and set a date for a public hearing on both issues. Council members will also vote on the first reading of an ordinance that would make revisions to the 2017 budget, and will consider approving fees and charges for the Cortez Municipal Airport and the planning and building department.
Other items on the agenda include the renewal of the city’s lease agreement with the Cortez Retail Enhancement Association for office space in the Colorado Welcome Center, and a letter of support for a grant application being submitted by nonprofit Needful Provision Inc., to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for money to build an indoor garden in Cortez.