Mentone Works on 2016 Budget
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
In the end, the council directed Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross to make any necessary cuts to the budget in curbs and sidewalks, new equipment and storm sewers in the General Fund.
The General Fund is the town’s largest fund and for 2016 will be advertised at $438,588, according to Ross’s initial calculations. That’s up $30,000 from 2015, Councilwoman Jill Gross said, but Ross reminded her they had to cut $35,000 out of it for this year.
“We don’t have room to cut it anywhere,” Gross said.
Most of the line items in the General Fund will stay the same for 2016 as 2015. For town employees, however, Council President Tim Croy suggested a $1,000 increase “across the board for everyone. That’s a little more than 2 percent.”
That will increase the annual salary for the town’s two full-time police department officers from $86,719 to $88,719. Gross and Councilwoman Shelley Krueger said they were OK with the pay increase for everyone. Salaries for the council and Ross will not increase.
Expecting an increase in health insurance costs, the council increased that budget item 10 percent. The town’s contribution to its employees’ Public Employee Retirement Fund also will increase from $12,500 to $13,870. PERF is based on employees’ salaries.
While discussing curbs and trees in the General Fund, Krueger said there are a lot of bad trees around town that could do a lot of damage if a bad storm hits. She wanted to keep money in the budget to address that issue.
Ross said trees don’t belong to the town and residents seldom want to contribute 50 percent to fix them under the town’s 50/50 program. Croy suggested putting $4,500 in the line item, but if Ross has to make a cut, she could make it there.
Under new equipment, town marshal Jim Eads said his truck will be six years old next year. He said he would like the town to entertain the idea of replacing his truck next year. He also reminded the council that money left from this year’s budget could be rolled into next year’s for new equipment.
Ross reminded the council that they also had to consider if Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd needed any new equipment next year.
Shepherd said within the next couple of years, he’d like to buy a piece of equipment to dig with, but said he knows Eads was wanting a truck.
The council decided to put $40,000 in new equipment, but Ross will reduce that amount if the DLGF tells her to cut the budget.
After going through the General Fund, the council then tackled the smaller funds.
Local Roads and Streets Fund was left at $18,200 for 2016; Motor Vehicle Highway was increased from $36,900 to $42,400 with money from the county’s new wheel tax expected to support that fund; Cumulative Capital Development will be advertised at $60,000 and will help the fire department purchase a new “used” tanker; Cumulative Capital Improvement will go back to $5,000 after being reduced to $3,686 this year; Cemetery Fund will increase from $10,200 to $11,200; Economic Development Income Tax will be $62,000, the same as 2015; and the Riverboat Fund will double from $7,000 for storm sewers to $15,000.
Now that the council has gone through the 2016 budget, it must be advertised, followed by a public hearing and then approved by the council at a separate meeting.
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In the end, the council directed Clerk-Treasurer Barb Ross to make any necessary cuts to the budget in curbs and sidewalks, new equipment and storm sewers in the General Fund.
The General Fund is the town’s largest fund and for 2016 will be advertised at $438,588, according to Ross’s initial calculations. That’s up $30,000 from 2015, Councilwoman Jill Gross said, but Ross reminded her they had to cut $35,000 out of it for this year.
“We don’t have room to cut it anywhere,” Gross said.
Most of the line items in the General Fund will stay the same for 2016 as 2015. For town employees, however, Council President Tim Croy suggested a $1,000 increase “across the board for everyone. That’s a little more than 2 percent.”
That will increase the annual salary for the town’s two full-time police department officers from $86,719 to $88,719. Gross and Councilwoman Shelley Krueger said they were OK with the pay increase for everyone. Salaries for the council and Ross will not increase.
Expecting an increase in health insurance costs, the council increased that budget item 10 percent. The town’s contribution to its employees’ Public Employee Retirement Fund also will increase from $12,500 to $13,870. PERF is based on employees’ salaries.
While discussing curbs and trees in the General Fund, Krueger said there are a lot of bad trees around town that could do a lot of damage if a bad storm hits. She wanted to keep money in the budget to address that issue.
Ross said trees don’t belong to the town and residents seldom want to contribute 50 percent to fix them under the town’s 50/50 program. Croy suggested putting $4,500 in the line item, but if Ross has to make a cut, she could make it there.
Under new equipment, town marshal Jim Eads said his truck will be six years old next year. He said he would like the town to entertain the idea of replacing his truck next year. He also reminded the council that money left from this year’s budget could be rolled into next year’s for new equipment.
Ross reminded the council that they also had to consider if Utilities Superintendent Josh Shepherd needed any new equipment next year.
Shepherd said within the next couple of years, he’d like to buy a piece of equipment to dig with, but said he knows Eads was wanting a truck.
The council decided to put $40,000 in new equipment, but Ross will reduce that amount if the DLGF tells her to cut the budget.
After going through the General Fund, the council then tackled the smaller funds.
Local Roads and Streets Fund was left at $18,200 for 2016; Motor Vehicle Highway was increased from $36,900 to $42,400 with money from the county’s new wheel tax expected to support that fund; Cumulative Capital Development will be advertised at $60,000 and will help the fire department purchase a new “used” tanker; Cumulative Capital Improvement will go back to $5,000 after being reduced to $3,686 this year; Cemetery Fund will increase from $10,200 to $11,200; Economic Development Income Tax will be $62,000, the same as 2015; and the Riverboat Fund will double from $7,000 for storm sewers to $15,000.
Now that the council has gone through the 2016 budget, it must be advertised, followed by a public hearing and then approved by the council at a separate meeting.
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