KEMMERER — The Kemmerer City Council conducted another workshop to develop departmental priorities for the fiscal year 2018 budget on Monday, March 27. The initial Feb. 27 work session brought recommendations for fee increases in several departments. 

Part of the workshop focused on the final recommendations that several municipal fee increases be adopted in the budget draft, which is expected to be presented at the first city council meeting in April. 

“The City of Kemmerer assesses fees, licenses, and permits for various programs and services throughout the city, ranging from the recreation center to garbage pickup,” said city administrator Andrew Nelson. “The money collected through these fees amounts to roughly 27 percent of the City’s total revenue.” 

The sanitation department is the only business-type activity in Kemmerer right now that covers its operating expenses, Nelson explained. Other programs, like the municipal airport, rec center, outdoor swimming pool, Fossil Island Golf Course and the South Lincoln Training and Events Center are all heavily subsidized from other tax revenues.

The staff determined that a simple increase to coincide with the landfill increase in the sanitation department is the best option. Still, they also discussed additional increases to accommodate for a part-time or full-time employee. 

Nelson said an extra job would help with snow removal and general street maintenance, but the increase might be too much. 

“The increase (nearly 17 percent just for a part-time employee) is less justifiable than an ongoing operational expense such as a landfill fee,” he said. “A full-time employee would result in a 26 percent increase.”

He acknowledged that this position could be flexible, though. If the council goes ahead with a sanitation fee increase required to fund an extra position, the position could be assigned throughout the city’s public works department as needs arise.

The city administrator’s new intern, high school senior Kaylee Hagler, introduced a frequent buyers program for the South Lincoln Training and Event Center (SLTEC). Nelson and Hagler have been working on an idea to help increase the SLTEC’s use. They suggested offering progressive discounts when booking five or more events. These big discounts will hopefully increase interest and use. 

There was also talk about Nelson and Mayor Tony Tomassi touring some of the local business industries and presenting this idea to help promote the event center. 

The council then gave the go-ahead to increase rec center fees for adult memberships and punch passes and leave the youth pass alone. The proposed three-tier pass program was still considered and will be added. 

The Fossil Island Golf Club will see increases as well. A Super Pass was introduced to combine green fees and golf-cart rental for those who would be interested in the savings. The outdoor pool’s daily fee will increase by $1 and a yearly pass increase by $5. 

The airport hangar fees will be increased to $350.00 per year with a 3.5 percent increase over the next 5 years. 

The council then participated in an exercise to help determine which departments will be prioritized when setting the budget for fiscal year 2018. When faced with such budget concerns, it is very difficult to decide which departments will get the cut. 

A computer program engaged the council with an interactive thought exercise weighing the importance between different services and departments. 

Although nothing was set in stone, it did give the council a good understanding at which areas will bear the biggest burden of financial cuts when drafting the budget in the upcoming sessions.