North Branch City Council continues budget discussions
Even though its preliminary budget for 2027 is set, and the final budget isn’t due until December, North Branch City Council continued to discuss next year’s budget as part of its meeting held Wednesday, Oct. 28. City Finance Director Sharon Wright led the discussion with updated budget numbers, including year-to-date figures for 2026. She also discussed the potential of adding three new positions in April rather than in January, which would create a slight reduction to the costs to the general fund. “So our increased cost to the general fund would come to $130,105 and the levy would come in at about a 7.91% increase over the prior year,” she said. She also brought forward information showing the median home value in the city increased by 7.91% to date. “That would increase the taxes on a house that’s of the same value by about $45 a year,” she said. Council member Jeff Goulet asked for an update on the city’s technology budget. Last year the city moved that budget, which in previous years was a line item for each department that used technology, into a separate area that encompassed all of the city’s technology needs. “It’s actually going up in
