SPICER -- Mayor Perry Wohnoutka returned to the Spicer City Council Wednesday and was greeted by a maelstrom of citizen critics and questions that couldn't be answered.
In his first meeting since October, Wohnoutka served as moderator of a 2008 budget public hearing that turned into a 90-minute metaphorical hunting season on council members. The citizens of Spicer made it clear Wednesday that they want the proposed budget cut.
"I plan on spending this week going through the budget with a fine-toothed comb," Wohnoutka said. He said he would look into doing a lot more cutting "without hurting the city."
As the proceedings ranged from discussion on excessive city employee raises to property taxes, Wohnoutka reinforced the same ideal like a broken record.
"I can't stress enough how much the council needs to tighten the belt and take care of the people," the mayor said.
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More and more questions were fired at the council until one woman stepped in and asked how the council didn't know details about the budget verbatim. The inquiry made both the citizens in attendence and a few council members a little louder in their rhetoric.
Councilman Robert Lindahl held up his three-ring notebook binder filled with budget information and asked how anyone could be expected to memorize such a compilation of documents, challenging anyone to speak up. Wohnoutka mediated the argument, reminding council members to treat the citizens with respect because they have the right to be heard. He also took blame for not knowing the budget well as a consequence of his five-week absence from city council business.
"I'm so far out of the loop right now," Wohnoutka said. "I'm just as guilty as the rest of the council."
Gerald Reiter, president of United Prairie Bank in Spicer, defended the council as the disparagement and second-guessing raged on.
"They are like a dartboard up there tonight," Reiter said. "It's really easy to say 'why don't we fire everybody and just do it by the seat of our pants.'"
Melvin's owner Dave Baker seconded Reiter by saying that he "didn't know everything about business, so I don't expect (the council) to know everything about the budget."
Following the extended onslaught of concerns, the council closed the public hearing and decided to have a continuance of the meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday. Holmquist said it would be beneficial since Wohnoutka hasn't been able to see the documents during his absence.
With the current budget proposal, the council will need $1,615,954 to cover expenditures for the 2008 proposed budget. In 2007, $1,680,101 was budgeted for city expenses. With the 2008 proposed levy amount of $701,479, the city will have a tax rate percentage of 54.239 percent. In the last four years, Spicer's tax rate percentage has ranged from 58.321 percent in 2007 to 69.366 percent in 2004.
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The council will need to finalize the budget by the end of its Dec. 26 meeting.
