Maplewood draft budget: roads, raises, no new employees

At the Maplewood City Council work session meeting on Tuesday, where officials discussed Raising Cane’s and the veterans memorial, they also reviewed a draft of the 2016-2017 city budget.

City Manager Marty Corcoran said the general fund being proposed this year is approximately $200,000 less than last year.

Parts of the city budget discussed:

• No new employees are planned to be hired. The budget shows a three percent merit salary increase for employees, but Corcoran said staff is recommending only two percent.
• Council member, David Cerven asked if there is a potential for more police overtime. Corcoran said the feds changed the policy for who is eligible for overtime but it has no effect on any employee in the city of Maplewood.
• Court revenues are down because police are not making as many stops, and what the city can charge in court has changed drastically.
• There is no money in the budget — or none available — for the ‘Big M’, proposed in March that would span Manchester Road because of public works projects already online.
• The city plans to apply for a grant for a skateboard park at either Kellogg Park or on the green space north of the pool parking lot.
• $1.9 million is budgeted for Manchester Road work — from Bredell Avenue to Hanley Road. The city is receiving a $1.2 million federal grant for the work.
• $1 million is budgeted for residential streets.