Speaking today to members of the North Platte noon rotary club, North Platte Mayor Dwight Livingston said that he prefers to seek revenue growth for the city rather than budget cuts, as a way of “helping to put a little extra in our pockets at the end of the year”.  The mayor said that seeking to make fair budget cuts can be problematic.  He would rather try to increase revenue than cut the budget.  Livingston was guest speaker at the weekly rotary gathering, and provided an update on the city’s agenda for 2013.

 

Livingston that there are two pressing concerns currently:  first is to hire an information technology employee to provide oversight and direction to the city’s need for computerization and digital workflow.  Second is to hire a replacement for city fire chief, Paul Pederson, who is scheduled to retire later this winter.

 

Livingston said he has not met with all of the city departments to talk about budget needs. In response to what has been his biggest surprise since his election in November, he quipped, “I thought this job was part-time, and that hasn’t proven to be absolutely true”.