A roughly $115 million budget that includes a 14-cent increase in the property tax rate was approved unanimously by the Fort Dodge City Council Monday.

All of the money generated by the additional 14 cents will go to support the Dodger Area Rapid Transit (DART) bus service, which has experienced increased costs and reduced federal support.

Councilman Terry Moehnke said the response to DART’s budget problems started late and hasn’t been handled well. He said he will not support an increased tax levy for DART next year.

Councilman Cameron Nelson agreed with Moehnke.

“I do believe that there is a gap that we can close by doing other things beside raising the tax levy,” he said.

He also said he would not support a tax increase for DART next year.

The budget is for the fiscal year that begins July 1 and ends June 30, 2027.

It totals $114,567,940. That is roughly the same as the current year’s budget.

It retains services to the citizens at current levels.

The major spending categories in the budget are:

• $34,410,615 for water, sanitary sewer, storm sewer and sanitation utilities.

• $13,177,317 for public safety.

• $10,195,384 for paying off debt.

• $6,923,441 for community and economic development.

• $6,761,706 for public works.

• $4,631,505 for culture and recreation.

• $1,454,809 for general government.

The property tax rate will be $20.89 per $1,000 of taxable value.

That’s up 14 cents from the current rate of $20.75 per $1,000 of taxable value.

The property tax rate is divided up as follows:

• $8.54 for the general fund, which pays for most government functions.

• $6.53 for employee benefits.

• $4.50 for paying off general obligation bond debt.

• 78 cents for property and liability insurance.

• 47 cents for DART.

• 8 cents for the Webster County Emergency Management Agency.