JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown City Council continued working on the 2023 city budget Wednesday afternoon.

The budget will need to be finalized before August 10th.

The council heard from different departments including the Jamestown Police Department. Jamestown Police Chief Scott Edinger says they would like to add a new video system that comes with body cameras.

The Jamestown Fire Department also requested budget to replace their 1997 rescue truck at a cost of around $580,479.

Fire Chief Jim Reuther says the truck is versatile and handles numerous calls for the department.

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich stated he would like to address employee raises including cost of living and step increases before discussing the addition or subtraction of other budget items.

At this time, the budget calls for a 6% cost of living wage increase and step pay increase. Heinrich says at this time, the current budget wouldn’t allow that to happen. He asked the council if they would like to focus on employee wages first and keep the step increases of 2.5% and 4% cost of living wage increase.

The council unanimously agreed to the change in the 2023 budget.

More discussion on budgeting equipment for the city sanitation department, street department, and water department was also held.

The council will meet again for more budget discussion.