By Sara StrongThe Luverne City Council will consider forming a separate budget committee at its next meeting.The budgeting process takes much of a year to complete, and it’s not often understood by the public. By inviting four to six citizens to join council members and city staff in budget meetings, Administrator Greg LaFond and Finance Officer Barb Berghorst hope to build bridges.Councilman Bob Kaczrowski said it would be good for people to see the process up front.LaFond said, "If there’s one thing that people talk about and know very little about, it’s city property taxes and spending."New fees and increased taxes this year got big reactions, even though taxes were equal to a few years ago.All of the City Council supported the new committee idea, but will vote on forming it next week.County relationsThe city is sending a plan to the county to work on their joint meetings. The two boards used to meet occasionally to discuss joint issues. Contract disputes and other disagreements over the meetings themselves ended the former Liaison Meetings, as they were called.The city is suggesting dates and times for the county to consider. The City Council said it would rather meet as a full board rather than sending representatives to avoid communication problems among themselves in relaying information from the meetings.Mayor Glen Gust said he looked forward to the meetings as a way to continue to work together and mend fences.LaFond said the meetings will be centered on issues, not personalities or the past.Councilman David Hauge said improving relations is good, but working on real ideas is most important. "We need to hammer out the questions of law enforcement, which is the big issue between us," Hauge said. "It’s been dragging out for months. The other issues are secondary."
