Town working on budget cuts

After the town council elected to suspend the franchise fee at their July 16 meeting, town departments have been at work making cuts to their budgets.

According to town clerk Suzie Cox, the department heads are currently reviewing their budgets. Once final cuts are sumbitted from department heads, and reviewed by the town council members, town attorney Tom Thompson will write a final budget amendment.

Saratoga Mayor John Zeiger expects a first reading of the budget amendment to take place at a September town council meeting.

In the 2014-2015 fiscal budget, the town of Saratoga budgeted nearly a $250,000 increase in revenues to arrive from franchise agreements. Department heads met in the days after the town council voted to remove the Carbon Power and Light franchise fee and agreed to make cuts. Zeiger said in previous interview all departments have made some cuts, and cuts have been successful thus far.

The town will do the second reading of the franchise fee at the next town council meeting.

In the streets department, last week’s downpour halted construction on several Saratoga roadways.

The town of Saratoga crews have blocked off several roadways in order to prepare for pot-hole filling. However, after the rain storms, crews were not able to pour asphalt. Town Engineer Chuck Bartlett said they were hoping to start pouring asphalt yesterday.

Bartlett would like to remind residents to not drive in the areas blocked off by cones, even if there is no construction currently taking place.

Town of Saratoga crews will resume working on the pedestrian bridge to Veterans Island after the road projects are completed.

As of Monday, Stantec Inc. had not sent the town of Saratoga its preliminary report on the Upper North Platte River Restoration Project.

The preliminary report was supposed to be presented to the town of Saratoga last Friday. According to town clerk Suzie Cox, Stantec will be sending the report “sometime this week”.

This is now the third time Stantec has delayed its preliminary report.

The Saratoga Town Council will be holding their next meeting at 6 p.m., today at Saratoga Town Hall. Zeiger said he is expecting a shortened meeting to allow time for the landfill board meeting at 7 p.m.