More money for ambulance service, senior center in Quincy 2024 budget

QUINCY — The city of Quincy is projected to spend about $107.13 million in 2024, according to the budget approved by the Quincy City Council in December.

The ongoing discussion over a block of B Street Northeast, whether changes are needed and how to pay for them if they are needed, prompted council member Dave Dormier to vote no on the budget resolution. 

The city’s general fund was budgeted at $16.77 million. The general fund includes the Quincy Police Department, parks and recreation, part of the salaries of some city workers and some city operations. Some contracted services and other agreements with local entities also are in the general fund.

The city’s agreement with Protection One, which provides ambulance service in the city, was increased to $283,920 for 2024. Quincy has an interlocal agreement with Grant County Fire District 3 for firefighting services, and City Administrator Pat Haley said during the Jan. 2 council meeting that city and GCFD 3 officials are negotiating a new one. Council members approved an extension of the existing agreement with GCFD 3 through March 1.

The budget also includes $85,500 for the Quincy Senior Center, which is an increase from 2023. The city’s agreement with the Quincy Valley Historical Society and Museum remains unchanged, at $30,000. So does the agreement with the Quincy Valley Chamber of Commerce; the city will pay the chamber $20,000.

The budget includes $16.3 million for Quincy’s new recreation facilities, some of which will be used for design and planning in 2024. Quincy-area voters approved a new recreation district in November 2023, with the money collected going for a new fieldhouse next to Lauzier Park and a new Quincy Aquatic Center in East Park. Haley said in an earlier interview that design of both projects is scheduled for 2024. 

The budget for the city’s water system is $11.97 million, and the budget for the domestic sewer system is $17.52 million. Quincy also has a water reuse system for some of its industrial customers, and the budget for that is $4.69 million. The budget for the industrial wastewater system is $9.3 million. 

The street fund is budgeted at $2.8 million. The fund for capital improvements is budgeted at $2.34 million, and the sidewalk improvement fund at $2.45 million. 

The block of B Street Northeast between Fifth and Sixth avenues has been a subject of discussion and concern for some residents and business owners along that street since construction on that section in 2022. That block was narrowed to accommodate a sidewalk and a walking path, and some residents have said they think it’s too narrow. 

City engineer Ariel Belino said at a public hearing in November that the street was too narrow for its designation in city code, and therefore requires a variance. The November hearing will be reopened Jan. 16 for more public testimony.

Dormaier said during the Dec. 19 council meeting that the city should include a line item in the budget for B Street Northeast if council members decide to work on the street. But the council declined to include one, and as a result, Dormaier voted no.

Cheryl Schweizer may be reached via email at cschweizer@columbiabasinherald.com.