The “road map for spending,” otherwise known as the City of Dell Rapids’ budget draft for 2013, was discussed at a specially called work session last Monday at City Hall.

City administrator Justin Weiland describes the document as such, as the session was meant to field city council questions regarding the draft proposal that outlines the upcoming year’s revenues and expenditures.

As of this printing, the council will have entertained its first reading of the budget, with the adoption set for Sept. 17.

“I’m hoping to accomplish further discussion on the budget,” Weiland said of the then-upcoming Sept. 4 meeting, “so that any adjustments can be made prior to the final reading Sept. 17.”

Weiland cited the main focuses of 2013 funds as the 15th Street “Phase Two,” including improvements to Garfield Avenue and State Avenue, as well as the Garfield Avenue bridge water main relocation project.

The administrator said that the approximate 32 percent increase in expenditures listed within the budget draft can be attributed to these major road and utility projects that are being mostly funded by revolving loan funds from the state.

Among the highlighted items in the FY2013 budget draft, according to a statement summary from the city, are the $859,600 budgeted to cover costs associated with the 15th Street/Garfield Avenue project that were not eligible for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources State Revolving Fund monies, as well as $23,600, combined with $26,400 in reserve funding, in the park budget to cover $50,000 in matching LCWF grant money for playground equipment upgrades.

This park budget is also set to cover bleacher replacement at the baseball fields and campground improvements in time for next year’s Quarry Days, at $15,000 apiece.

Recreational funding also includes a $10,000 line item intended to replace the existing water slide at the city pool.

Especially noted in the summary was the absence of 7th Street improvement funding. “This presented budget does not reflect the addition of a 7th Street Improvement Project,” the statement read. “If the council wishes to add a 7th Street project to the 2013 budget it will be necessary to add approximately $300,000 in costs into respective street, water and sewer departments.”

Weiland also informed the council that the budget draft does not include allocations for library utility relocation or work on Old Highway 77 drainage.

An element instituted last year into the city’s budget was a contingency fund of $30,000, implemented to cover costs that go beyond department budgets.

“I like it for the flexibility factor for something that the city didn’t have in the budget,” Weiland said of the fund, which is set at the same budget amount FY2013. As far as expenditures from this year’s allocation, he said that remains to be seen.

“We’ll wait until the end of the year to see if any department has overspent,” he said.