WINONA, Minn. – City Manager Chad Ubl proposed a 2023 budget that would rely on a 9.3% tax increase to meet rising operational costs. The Ubl budget would fund no new initiatives – not even the postponed plan to augment policing with social workers. Ubl’s proposal now is in the hands of the City Council with this timetable:
> Monday: Preliminary Council consideration.
> September: City Council approval of a preliminary budget approval, followed by an invitation for public comment.
> December: Formal approval by the City Council.
The budget includes borrowing $3.1 to replace and improve facilities:
> $1.5 million: Street and fire department. vehicles.
> $1 million: Toward a new Masonic Temple heating and cooling system.
> $334,000: Library and City Hall elevators.
> $60,000: LED lighting.
Separate from spending from local taxes are disbursements from $2.9 million earmarked mostly for infrastructure through the American Rescue Plan:
> $1 million: Continued work on the Masonic Temple heating and cooling system.
> $488,000: Fire department equipment and training.
> $240,000: Housing rehabilitation.
> $180,000: Mental health initiatives.
> $99,500: Third Street beautification.