Budget items attacked

The frequency of city employee raises and the purchase of Christmas decorations for downtown Custer came into the crosshairs of a local business owner during Monday evening’s regular meeting of the Custer City Council.

Barb Edwards, owner of the Gold Pan Saloon and Frontier Bar and Grill, questioned the wisdom of some of the council’s recent decisions as it grapples with a shortfall of revenue for its 2013 budget. Edwards was hoping the council would give some relief from the city’s 10 percent markup on alcohol that alcohol-selling businesses have with the city.

Every establishment within city limits that sells alcohol is required to have an operating agreement with the city. The operating agreement states that the business must pay a markup of 10 percent on all alcoholic, non-alcoholic wine and malt beverages the business purchases, including freight or delivery charges. If a business buys $1,000 of alcohol to sell at their business in a month, the business is required to pay 10 percent fee—in this case $100—to the city.