The Ames City Council fought the terrible weather last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to discuss the proposed 2011-2012 Ames Budget, which covers an estimated $193 million for expenditures.

This figure is a 5.2 percent increase from last year’s adopted budget.

Ames residents will see an increase in several utility costs — 15 percent for storm sewer, eight percent for water and 10 percent for sanitary sewer.

One of the subjects discussed by the council was funding for natural disaster damage in the past year. The preliminary damage estimates for the wind storm in July and the floods in August totaled $2 million, according to Duane Pitcher, city finance director.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency will cover 75 percent of that cost, and 10 percent will be provided by state funding, adding to a total of $1.7 million. Ames is required to match 15 percent of that.

The city will also receive credit for its volunteer labor that will go toward the matching funds.

Another part of the city budget is the Community Enrichment Program, which has a 4.7 percent decrease from last year. The program includes, among other facilities, the aquatic center, the dog park, city parks, the community center and the ice arena.

ISU hockey and intramurals at the ice arena bring in revenue to the program, according to Nancy Carroll, city director of parks and recreation. Intramural games are from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., which makes use of the facility at otherwise inactive times.

“We’re very fortunate to be in a college community,” Carroll said.

The city is also going to install trash solar compactors like the ones used on the ISU campus. Carroll said there is an initiative to be cleaner on campus, so the city wants to show energy efficiency in other areas too.

In addition, the Ames transit system, which includes CyRide, has a proposed 6.1 percent increase. Federal funding and rising fuel prices are two of the challenges contributing to this increase.

The budget also includes a 3.7 percent increase in costs for ice and snow control, which includes salt and sand for sidewalks and streets, ice removal and snow plows.

The City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday night at City Hall, 515 Clark Ave., to vote on the proposed budget. The public will have the opportunity to give input about the budget decisions.