WELCOME CENTER & BRANCH LIBRARY SURVIVE CITY BUDGET CUTS

THE SGT FLOYD RIVERBOAT WELCOME CENTER AND THE PERRY CREEK LIBRARY BOTH SURVIVED THIS YEAR'S PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS BY THE SIOUX CITY COUNCIL.

THE WELCOME CENTER'S 137-THOUSAND DOLLAR BUDGET WAS BEING CONSIDERED AS A CUT FROM THE PUBLIC MUSEUM'S OPERATING BUDGET.

CITY COUNCILMAN JOHN FITCH WAS AMONG THE 4-1 MAJORITY VOTING TO KEEP IT OPEN AT LEAST ONE MORE YEAR:     

THE COUNCIL ALSO  HAD SUGGESTED CUTTING 150-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE LIBRARY'S OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH WOULD HAVE PLACED THE BRANCH LIBRARY IN JEOPARDY.

BUT TOM PADGETT MOVED TO REDUCE THAT AMOUNT TO 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS WHICH PASSED ON A 3-2 VOTE.

MAYOR BOB SCOTT THEN MADE A MOTION TO REDUCE THE CUT TO 50-THOUSAND DOLLARS:

THE COUNCIL ALSO MANDATED FEE INCREASES FOR SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC BE ENACTED BY CITY POLICE AND FIRE AS WELL AS BUILDING PERMITS.