Council favors revised budget proposal

A new version of the proposed Marshall city budget for next year cuts the price to other departments for motor pool services, freeing up $70,000 for the city to perform crackfill and microsurface work on 12 local and major streets. The new proposal also preserves all 91 jobs and includes a one percent anticipated wage increase in lieu of the original, three percent anticipated raise for workers. All five city labor unions are in negotiations with the city manager with contracts expiring June 30. The council, with Jim Dyer and Matt Glaser absent, favored Ron Goodwin's proposal to separate public safety into police and fire departments and eliminate the deputy chief position. However, the chief position, also vacant, has 30 applicants and seven potential candidates for interviews based on the advertised public safety director job. See Saturday's Chronicle for details on last night's budget discussions.