City of Janesville aims to cut nearly $550,000 in 2020 budget

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The City of Janesville has cuts to make for their 2020 city budget.

Finance Director Max Gagin presented their dilemma to the city council Thursday afternoon.

Gagin said the city’s revenues are increasing, but their expenditures are set to exceed the limit to receive funding from the state’s expenditure restraint program.

The city needs to cut $547,000 of expenses to qualify for a projected $1.525 million in funding. Because it’s an expenditure limit, they can’t just increase revenues to make up the deficit.

Gagin and his staff offered the possibilities of reducing funding for the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin’s animal control, eliminating city-funded downtown snow removal and shifting the purchasing of new Janesville Police Department patrol vehicles to note issues.

The council acknowledged that cuts are difficult but need to be made.

The city is planning a budget orientation meeting for August 8.