|
Council of the Village of Yellow SpringsIn Council Chambers February 16, 2008CALL TO ORDER President Judith Hempfling called the meeting to order at 10:10 a.m. ROLL CALL Judith Hempfling, Karen Wintrow, Kathryn Van der Heiden, John Booth and Lori Askeland were present. The Village Manager Eric Swansen, Finance Director Sharon Potter, Streets and Parks Supervisor Dave Conley and Kelley Fox, Electric and Water Supervisor were also present. GENERAL SESSION- Review and Budget Discussion-Enterprise Funds Swansen began by explaining that 2007 was budgeted very tightly and that the Village is still paying off some of the 2007 expenditures this month. Swansen further explained that even though the Village needs a planner and a personnel officer their may not be money to fund those positions the way they had been in the past. He has budgeted for a new hire for the electric and water departments. The police department is still one position down. There are two staff positions that will not filled this year. Swansen suggested that the part-time building monitor position be increased to three-quarter time position in order to assist in the youth programs. On the revenue side of the budget, Swansen stated that last year was a good year. The biggest item that came in over budget was the Estate Tax at $262,000. The Village received $12,000 from Personal property tax and there was an increase from the sales tax due to the increase in business in the county. Swansen cautioned that there could be a change in the income tax due to a decrease in employees at Antioch College and Antioch Publishing. He anticipates the Kilowatt Hour tax will be flat for 2008. The Enterprise Funds, for the most part, are healthy. Swansen had additional capital items on this list that were not apart of the previous list. They included two pickup lift trucks that are costing too much money to keep them on the road. Swansen had received an estimate from Bruce Cornett on the cost of replacing computers currently used by staff with new backup hardware and software. The police department needs a new police vehicle. There is not enough money to buy down the Bryan Center debt. Swansen also reviewed the "set asides" to be used from the levy monies. He added that the health care costs have increased $28,000 as well as a 1.1% increase in pension costs. He further added that the Income Tax revenues are not keeping up with costs. Swansen suggested that Council be mindful of the possible closure of Antioch College. He also reminded Council that if they want to renew the levy then the work should begin now. Swansen added that there has been an increase in housing permits within the Village, which will mean more property tax revenue in the future. The Debt Amortization/Debt Service Funds is summary of the Village's debt. Swansen explained that 2.5 in original debt which is now about 1.4 million most which is spread among the enterprise funds. Council briefly reviewed the budgets of the Mayor, Administration, Council, Planning, Library, Cable TV and Police. Swansen also explained how some salaries are paid from more than one fund. Swansen then reviewed capital expenditures which included a street sweeper. In addition he reviewed some projects that are pending which included rebuilding of the Village's website, the Northern Gateway Project, the Corry Street overlays, and infrastructure at the Center for Business and Education among others. Swansen added that the bleachers at Gaunt Park would have to be replaced. He also plans to revamping the pool staffing, increasing their hourly rate and changing the supervision of the staff. In addition, Personnel Services has an amount of $50,000 that will be transferred back to General Fund from Economic Revolving Loan Fund. There was $35,000 earmarked for the Green Space Fund. Council took a lunch break from 12:10 pm to 12:35pm Swansen explained the list of items he proposed to come from the one-time monies. These monies include funds from the Estate Tax along with money from last year. The items included: Capital Projects
Capital Equipment
Swansen explained that the Estate Tax and the other funds brought the total of one-time monies to $532,927. The amount of $427,300 is expenditures from the one-time monies. This leaves a balance of $105,627. Council was concerned that the discussion for spending the $262,000 Estate Tax monies has been rolled into a different discussion that included additional other monies which have now been earmarked without enough input from Council. Askeland asked that $125,000 be put into the Green Space Fund. Van der Heiden disagreed with Askeland and suggested $50,000 for the Green Space in order to hold some money in reserve for unanticipated expenses. Hempfling supported Askeland's suggestion and added that money for the Green Space Fund should be set aside each year. Comments from the audience. Pat Murphy stated he did not understand the numbers. He wasn't sure there was any money available for the Green Space based on the numbers he was seeing from the distributed documents. Paul Abendroth suggested that Council budget for the operation of the Village first and any money left after that could be used as one-time money expenditures. Mary Donahoe supported more funding for the Green Space Fund along with Rick Donahoe, Krista Magaw and others. Jean Payne wanted Council to insure that maintaining infrastructure is a priority. Wintrow felt that the money for the street sweeper should come from the levy monies because streets were one of the items that had been earmarked in the levy. She stressed that decisions had yet to be confirmed about the operating budget. Van der Heiden suggested that $50,000 for the Green Space Fund and Council make a plan that determines how that funding can continue. Van der Heiden MOVED and Wintrow SECONDED a MOTION that $50,000 be put into the Green Space Fund. The MOTION PASSED 3-2 with Hempfling and Askeland voting no. Hempfling MOVED that there be a pot of money put aside for visioning/planning which would be for planning around economic development, visioning, code revisions, looking at diversity, being a welcoming community for diversity people, and looking at affordability concerns. There was no SECOND on this MOTION. Hempfling MOVED that $50,000 as a placeholder for planning/visioning, which would decrease the amount that was originally earmarked. Askeland SECONDED this MOTION. The voted was called. There were 2 no votes and 3 abstentions. The MOTION FAILED. Van der Heiden suggested that since Council was not voting on the budget, there would be amble time later for discussion on this issue. Council agreed to take the cost earmarked for the street sweeper from the one-time monies. Council did not agree to do the Retail Market Analysis at this meeting. Askeland asked regarding the Sewer Fund, Sewer Treatment Fund and Sewer Collection, under contract services there is a total of $182,000 was off about $50,000. Swansen said he would review these amounts. She also asked about the $285,000 budgeted for the automated meter reader. Some of the expense is needed replacement. First reading on the proposed budget (the annual appropriations) will be held on Monday March 17 th with a second reading and public hearing on Monday, March 31 st . ADJOURNMENT Having no further business, Hempfling MOVED and Van der Heiden SECONDED a MOTION to ADJOURN. The MOTION PASSED AT 2:35 P.M.
|
|