BUDGETS
Budgets. No one likes to think about them, but for an organization, a budget is a necessary plan for spending and saving. Local governments are in the midst of budgeting right now for 2027. The Winthrop City Council is doing everything we can to communicate information about City spending and our budgets. Did you know that every single payment the City makes is listed in the Council agenda packet each month? From a $3.00 package of screws from the hardware store to a $30,000 bond payment, everything is listed. Agenda packets are always available on the City of Winthrop’s website, and anyone can review them at any time.
Our City website also has budget information beginning with 2023, going through the proposed plans for 2027. If you want to know how much the City is planning to spend on things like snow removal, tree replacement, pothole repairs or library materials, you can find exact numbers in the budget reports. If you look at reports from previous years, you can find the exact amount actually spent in every category. The financial software that city staff recommended and implemented in 2023 allows in-depth, real-time ability to look at the current state of the budget and expenditures. It is accessible to any resident who wants to take the time to look at it.
When City Council works on setting budget category amounts, we first look at costs that are mandated expenses over which we have no control. Then we consider long-term and short-term needs and requests from citizens. We go over every budget line item and requests during Council Work Sessions. We have had one already, and have one planned this week, along with another Work Session after the regular Council meeting on September 14th. Residents are welcomed and encouraged to attend! You can come and listen to the discussion or you can ask questions about any of the proposed spending plans.
Life is expensive. It is not fun to pay more for gas and groceries or your property taxes. When looking at property taxes, it is important to remember that any increases you see are not just the City portion. Increases from Sibley County and the school district also have an impact, as does the valuation of your home or business. While it might feel like property taxes are going up faster than other expenses, it is useful to look back at actual numbers. Using archived editions of the Winthrop News, I found the total approved budget for 2003, which was $830,948. Those dollars are equivalent to $1,527,069 in 2026, adjusting for inflation. The approved total budget for 2026 was $1,575,079. City spending is very similar (within 3%) of what we had eighteen years ago.
Your City Council sets budgets for each year, and as they work through that process for 2027, I would hope that if you have some faith in their commitment to careful use of tax dollars. If you have questions or concerns, you should attend the budget work sessions or reach out to me, City Council members, or City staff. Council is working on a budget that keeps any increases small and manageable, while still providing the services that we all depend on like EMS, safe water& sewer, reliable electricity, well-maintained streets, parks and the library.
Hope to see you at a budget work session!
Mayor Julie Trebelhorn