The Crookston Ways and Means continued discussions and review of the PRELIMINARY 2027 city budget with Finance Director Jon Roscoe on Monday. The budget sections under review included the airport, building inspector, library, and elected officials.
The first section reviewed was the airport. Roscoe reported that state grant awards for FY2027 would be slightly lower, so the budgeted revenue was set at $281,420, which is just above the budgeted revenues for FY2026 at $280,500. For expenses, the city expects a decrease from $390,885 to $372,335. Council member at-large Morgan Hibma questioned why the airport’s subscription costs increased, but Roscoe did not have an immediate answer and will get back to Hibma at a later date.
AIRPORT REVENUES
FY2026: $280,500
FY2027: $281,420
AIRPORT EXPENSES
FY2026: $390,835
FY2027: $372,335
Building inspector Greg Hefta joined Roscoe for the discussion on the building inspector budget. Hefta informed the committee that most expenses would remain level, except for subscriptions and fees, which are increasing in FY2027 to $11,580 to cover the renewal of a GoGov software account used for permitting applications.
BUILDING INSPECTOR REVENUE
FY2026: $73,150
FY2027: $76,750
BUILDING INSPECTOR EXPENSES
FY2026: $140,830
FY2027: $153,446
When reviewing the library budget, Roscoe noted that FY2027 expenses would result in a shortfall of around $16,000, but the levy could be adjusted to cover it.
LIBRARY REVENUE (LEVY)
FY2026: $306,505
FY2027: $306,505
LIBRARY EXPENSES
FY2026: $306,449
FY2027: $323,372
The major change to the elected official budget for FY2027 is the council-approved budget line item. Roscoe explained that the line item is used for areas such as donations to community organizations and professional fees for items the city council wants additional data on, like the pool feasibility study. Mayor Dale Stainbrook asked Roscoe to ensure there was sufficient funding for training, as the council could have four new members next year, plus the mayoral position. Roscoe assured Stainbrook that sufficient funding would be budgeted for training.
ELECTED OFFICIALS EXPENSES
FY2026: $303,608
FY2027: $189,108
So far, Roscoe has received positive feedback from the committee and appreciates the ability to present the budget in sections, which gives members ample time to ensure every little detail is correctly documented. “They’re looking fine,” said Roscoe. “As I said, there are some cleanup items as you go through things, and people have discussions. They’re always looking for ways to improve and make things clearer for everyone. And again, some of that, too, is new items, as software changes, as trainings change, depending on turnover and those types of things, and you have to adjust, adjust your budget accordingly.”
While Interim City Administrator Darin Selzler was absent from Monday’s meeting, Roscoe has been grateful to have Selzer by his side to assist him in his first full budget work-up. “Oh, he’s a huge help. I really enjoy working with Darren, and he’s got a ton of knowledge and organizes everything well, and I think everyone respects him,” said Roscoe. “It’s a huge help to be able to rely on him when I’ve got questions that he’s able to help me out. He’s a great asset,”
As the committee continues its review sessions, Roscoe admits the discussions could get tougher, as bigger budget areas like police and fire, and the water department are analyzed, but the goal has always been to make sure everyone understands the budget in full and can ask questions if they see anything unusual. Roscoe explained, “We’ve got police and fires still to do, and then you get into the larger budgets, because you have parks and rec and streets, along with the water and wastewater, with a lot more employees, a lot more different internal departments inside of their departments going on, and so those are those will be coming up in the next few council meetings.”
The Houston erosion discussion was removed from the agenda because the committee was waiting for more information before continuing the discussion.
The next Ways and Means Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 20, immediately following the City Council meeting in the council chambers at City Hall.
