Gas prices drive up Monroe’s '13 budget

September 7, 2012

    It's budget time again for area governments and Monroe's proposed budget for 2013 was reviewed Thursday night during the first of two public hearings before final approval on October 4 by the town council.
    The overall proposed budget for 2013 is $391,900. That's up $7,030 from the 2012 budget, according to official documents.
    Council President Al Lehman said most areas saw an increase in expenses from last year. The biggest increase came in the Motor Vehicle Highway fund, which jumped $5,180 from last year's budget.
    "Basically, it's all about gas," said Lehman. "We were short on our budget last year because of what happened to the gas prices. So we might as well figure that into this budget."
    A second public hearing on the issue will be held prior to the October 4 meeting of the town council.