City council adopts 2021 budget

RITZVILLE – Council members adopted a $9,808,180 budget for 2021 at their Dec. 1 meeting.

Mayor Gary Cook said the 2020 budget year presented challenges with the governor’s shutdown beginning in March, leaving the city with an approximate six percent revenue reduction through September. Cook said expenses were cut by about three percent, leaving the city with a net loss of about three percent.

“As of this budget planning cycle, we are not sure how the COVID-19 issue will end. We need to plan our 2021 budget with the same caution that has brought success in 2020,” Cook said. “We are all much mo...