PINEDALE – The Pinedale Town Council wrapped up its June 18 special meeting with a budget prepared for the 2021-2022 fiscal year. Councilmembers unanimously passed Ordinance 685 on third and final reading, setting the annual budget appropriations for Mayor Matt Murdock to sign.

The budget approved on June 18 contained several changes from the first and second reading. The town's general fund reflected a revenue boost from improved projections on the town's mill levy and sales and use tax collections.

The budget on third reading contained more revenue from the state's mineral severance tax. Murdock explained to the Roundup that the state legislature did not move to make anticipated cuts to mineral severances during the Legislative Session this spring.

General fund revenues also increased with anticipated grant money from the Wyoming Department of Transportation for the South Tyler Avenue pathway project and a safety study on pedestrian crossings.

Expenses in the general fund contained slight increases in town employee wages, tax contributions and benefits. Before discussing the budget on June 18, the council voted to approve an increase in salaries for several employees that were not included in the original budget.

Murdock told the Roundup the pay raises were meant to reward long-term employees and included promotions.

General fund expenses also went up by $10,000 to cover additional liability and property insurance for the new Dudley Key Sports Complex.

The approved general fund budget contained contracts for services from 10 nonprofit agencies in the full amounts requested at the June 14 council meeting. The total amount came to approximately $107,000, under 4 percent of the general fund.

The total general fund showed a $69,158.46 surplus. Murdock told the Roundup that the surplus placed the town in a good financial position, providing some leeway to cover unexpected expenses that may come up in the fiscal year.

The general fund did not include money spend on town council discretionary projects, including the South Tyler Avenue pathway project and the new ball fields. The figures changed significantly between the second and third reading on the budget.

The revisions were due to final payouts made to contractors overseeing the projects for the fiscal year, Abram Pearce, director of public works, explained. The final payments allowed Pearce to provide a more accurate figure than the estimates in the first and second readings.

Pearce added that the town did not spend as much money on contracts as anticipated and both projects came in under budget.

The 2021-2022 fiscal year budget approved on June 18 set aside $2,286,000 for discretionary projects, compared to $3,885,203 spent in fiscal year 2020-2021 and $5,526,648 the previous year.

The town's airport fund on third reading came in $42,125 under budget. Murdock told the council on June 18 that the airport board did its best to keep the budget tight. He reported to the Roundup on Wednesday that the town expected additional funding from WYDOT and the Federal Aviation Administration, reducing the deficit to $15,000.

Murdock said he hoped increased business would follow the construction of new hangars and a fuel farm at the airport and balance the budget out next year.

Councilmembers agreed to cover the deficit with funds from the airport's reserve account. Councilwoman Judi Boyce emphasized that the decision was not a negative reaction to the airport board.

The town's travel and tourism and water funds, as approved on June 18, both contained surpluses.

The sewer fund initially showed a deficit of $158,333 with $80,000 added to replace remaining clay pipelines in town.

The project would take place in conjunction with a broader WYDOT construction initiative to renovate Pine Street, said Pearce. Repairing the sewer lines during WYDOT's renovation would save the town significant money down the road, Pearce added.

To cover the deficit in the sewer fund, the town drew from retained earnings left in the fund from the previous fiscal year.

Other town news

The council unanimously passed a motion to enter a contract with Meats and More, operated by Shelly Sison, to provide concessions at the new Dudley Key Sports Complex.

The motion included an amendment allowing other food service providers to operate outside the concession stand for large festivals or tournaments, pending a town permit.

The council spent approximately one hour in executive session to discuss personnel and pending litigation.