On top of all its regular meeting business on Thursday, the Ketchikan City Council is scheduled to vote on the general government and Ketchikan Public Utilities budgets for next year.
Thursday’s meeting is the last scheduled opportunity for the council to amend the budgets before adopting them.
Service and staffing levels for both budgets are essentially status-quo, according to city management. The approximately $52 million KPU budget includes a 5-percent increase to electric rates, and 5.5 percent for residential water rates.
During a recent budget review session, City Manager Karl Amylon told the council that both of those divisions have continued to operate at a deficit, and it’s not sustainable for them to rely on reserves.
In the approximately $26 million general government budget, residential wastewater rates are programmed to increase 6 percent.
The council meeting starts at 7 p.m. Thursday in council chambers, with public comment at the start of the meeting.
Here are links to earlier reports about the council’s budget review process: Nov. 27; Dec. 5; Dec. 13
