City Council approves new budget, ambulance purchase

LAUREL – The Laurel City Council has approved the community’s 2023-24 budget.

Council members met on the morning of Sept. 21 during a short special meeting and voted in favor of this fiscal year’s budget, as well as the purchase of a new ambulance.

The city’s 2023-24 budget is $11,237,722. Last year’s city budget was $10,055,789.

Council members also approved Laurel’s 2023-24 property tax request of $281,376. The city’s property tax request was $243,492 for 2022-23.

City officials cited increased operating costs for the rises in both Laurel’s budget and property tax request from the previous fiscal year to this fiscal year.

In other business at the meeting, council members approved the purchase of a new ambulance at a cost of $296,100, along with a Stryker Power- Load System and a Stryker Power- Pro XT power cot for $55,480, for a total of $351,580.