City budget dips into savings

A sharp increase in the police budget and impending sidewalk repairs left Clarkston officials without an alternative as they dipped nearly $4,600 from the city’s rainy day fund.
The fund ? a surplus balance carried over from previous budget years ? stood at $86,235.88 before the deduction.
‘It’s a very, very tight budget,? said City Councilman Cory Johnston during a budget committee report at Monday’s council meeting. ‘The budget committee is going to look at ways we can either get more money or spend less’I’m going to put it on the whole council ? the budget committee doesn’t have any rabbits in the hat.?
The largest chunks of the budget increase include $10,000 allocated for sidewalk repair and replacement, and a $28,500 boost to cover new computers, overtime expenses and an increase in gasoline and vehicle maintenance costs within the city’s police department.
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