Press Release: Audit Report: Taxes Low - Staff Praised
Grant City Taxes Low; Staff Praised
“This is great news for taxpayers,” said Terry Galloway during his audit presentation to the City of Grant council at their January 23, 2018 meeting. Galloway, a CPA and partner in the accounting firm Almquist, Maltzahn, Galloway, and Luth of Grand Island, is responsible for conducting the City’s annual audit. He began his report by stating, “Everything is good in the City of Grant. You have a very good audit report.”
Galloway went on to highlight details of the 61 page report, spending most of his time explaining the report card he provides for each of the cities he audits. Galloway explained that of the over 50 cities he helps to audit, the City of Grant has one of the most “efficient” administrations. Whereas the average administrative expense per citizen of cities our size across Nebraska is $170 per capita, Grant spends only $110 per person. “Dana and Jessie are great to work with,” Galloway said referring to City Superintendent Dana Harris and Clerk/Treasurer Jessie Faber.
Galloway went on to address the financial health of the city. “You have done a good job in the last 5 years of getting cash reserves where they should be. You are in great financial shape,” he said. The “great news for taxpayers,” he said, is that you have been able to accomplish that while keeping taxes low. The average property tax in comparable cities is $260 per capita, while in Grant it is only $201. City Superintendent Dana Harris, who has managed the City of Grant for those 5 years Galloway cited, said she was, “very pleased with the auditor’s comments and very proud of the work the city staff does to keep expenses in check.”
Galloway also made some suggestions for future budgeting. In addition to possibly adjusting the rates for sewer service he mentioned looking at the library budget. Whereas libraries in comparable cities spend $60 per capita, Grant spends $85.
Authored by Dana Harris