Editor’s note – The print version of this story included incorrect information on the funding request for Southeast Linn Community Center’s ask from the City of Lisbon. The Sun apologizes for the error.

The City of Lisbon has begun budget discussions for the coming fiscal year.

At the Dec. 9 meeting, the council heard requests from Mount Vernon Lisbon Police Department, Mount Vernon-Lisbon Economic Development Group, Community Beautification and Trees, Lisbon History Center and Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance.

MVLPD

Chief Doug Shannon was requesting a three percent increase for the budget of Lisbon for the next two years. Shannon said they are proposing 4 percent increases for salaries.

MVLCDG

Director Jessie Thurn had an increase of $3,000 asked for economic development investment from the City of Lisbon this year. The increase is to help pay for the salary of the social media manager position for the CDG. The City of Lisbon currently contributes $6,000 for marketing and events with the CDG.

Community beautification and trees

The budget for community beautification and trees remained mostly the same, with most of that budget going to tree removal.

Lisbon History Center

City administrator Brandon Siggins said the slight increase for the center will be towards insurance costs. The city will maintain a $5,000 for the west wall of the center for any needed improvements.

LMVAS

Director Jacob Lindauer said his ask this year was an increase for the benefits portion of his salary. The City of Lisbon is responsible for contributing to Lindauer’s benefits in their shared costs with the City of Mount Vernon for the position. Lindauer said that calls have been down a little bit this year, which he attributes to the services in other communities finding better staffing that they have not had as many joint calls of service needed.

At the Dec. 23 meeting, the council heard requests from Lisbon Public Library, Lisbon cemetery, Southeast Linn Community Center, Lisbon Fire Department, Lisbon EMA and Lisbon Historic Preservation Commission.

Lisbon Library

Director Elizabeth Hoover de Galvez has completed her first year with the library. Her request was roughly for cost of living adjustments for staff salaries. She highlighted the number of programs completed for all ages at the library, as well as the updates to the library’s website and cataloging software for the library.

Cemetery

The largest increase for the cemetery was increases in wages, going up to $15,000 this year. While salary is increasing, Siggins said that building maintenance and repair has been slightly decreased to bring things more to gender neutral.

SELCC

Director Nicole McAlexander said SELCC has received funds from the Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation and a private donor to extend the summer lunch program that the center did last summer in a joint program with the Lisbon Public Library. The center is looking to increase that popular program to three days a week during the summer, up from the one per week currently offered.

As McAlexander said in her report to the council, without any USDA meal sites in the community, there is a gap to fill in child hunger during the summer.

Fire

Siggins said that the maintenance cost for the building was being increased to $1,000 to replace a door that is rusted out on the building.

“If we are able to complete that work in house, that will be $1,000,” Siggins aid.

Vehicle operations and maintenance costs were also raised to $6,000.

Minor equipment was lowered to $3,000.

Insurance was estimated to be $17,000.

With the reductions to minor equipment, Siggins said that takes the budget to a few thousand more than last year.

EMA

The budget remains mostly unchanged this year. Siggins said they anticipate buying a radio this year, so funding is there for that.

HPC

Lisbon Historic Preservation Commission budget was slightly reduced for this fiscal year.