Wrangell’s Borough Finance Director, Lee Burgess and Borough Manager, Jeff Jabusch presented the City and Borough of Wrangell 2017 draft budget at a public hearing and workshop on Monday night.  Despite the uncertainty of funding from the State of Alaska and a 36% increase in insurance cost for City and Borough employees, Burgess and Jabusch presented a balanced budget for the coming fiscal year.  While no city staff will be laid-off under the draft budget proposal, there will be a reduction in city employees because the positions of city staff who resigned in the past year will not be filled.

Borough Manager Jabusch said more public hearings will take place, giving the public an opportunity to comment, before the draft budget goes to the Wrangell Borough Assembly for approval.