When the city of Luverne’s new fiscal year started Oct. 1, a new budget was not in place. The City Council remedied the problem at Monday’s regularly-scheduled meeting by approving a $3.067 million budget proposed and prepared by Mayor Joe Sport.

The budget included minor changes to the city’s current $3.72 million budget.

The delay in passing the budget came as a result of questions raised by Council member Jerry Sipper. He asked the Council to consider holding a budget workshop so that members could review the proposed budget, ask questions and make recommendations.

The workshop was held at town hall Monday afternoon, an hour before the regular meeting.

One thing missing from the approved budget was Sport’s proposed one-cent sales tax increase. Sport said he asked for the increase because the city’s expenses had gone up and he did not want to rely on reserved funds.

The tax increase was met with opposition from local business owners who said it would hurt more than it would help.

Sport, who was not present for Monday’s workshop and meeting because of illness, spoke to several business owners last week and assured them the proposed increase had been tabled.

Some business owners attended Monday’s meeting. One owner asked the council to consider tabling the increase indefinitely.