Trying to budget coming out of a pandemic has been a challenge but City of Clinton leaders and Warner Hospital leaders Monday night indicate things are looking much better than perhaps anticipated.

At the Monday night Clinton City Council meeting, City Treasurer Clint Lichtenwalter told the Council things could have been much worse, however, they are looking at a very positive budget report for this upcoming fiscal year.

Lichtenwalter believes Clinton is in a very fortunate position considering the past year could have easily devastated the community's budgeting through lost sales taxes. He says other communities are not coming out the other end of COVID in as good of position.

CEO of Warner Hospital and Health Services Paul Skowron called his budget a 'reopening budget'. He adds they are budgeting very conservatively that sees them coming out nearly a quarter-of-a-million dollars ahead.

The Council approved the budgets Monday night.

Additionally, the Council approved its annual contribution to the Clinton fireworks display for the Fourth of July, the $100,000 summer maintenance schedule, a water rate increase, and the termination of a TIF district on the community's west side.