Milford Continues Work On Budget
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
MILFORD -ÊFor the second time in two weeks, the Milford Town Council met to discuss the 2001 budget.
Clerk-Treasurer Charlotte Siegfried told the board the park department budget was approximately the same as last year, at $20,373.
The council discussed whether or not to provide a mower for the town to do its own mowing of the local park or if they want to continue to contract the mowing.
Councilman Bob Phillips said he would like to see Utilities and Street Department Commissioner Dallas Winchester take it over because "everything he touches turns to gold." He said he didn't see a problem with having the grass mowed by contract, but he thought it may be better for the town to do it themselves.
A part-time employee could do the mowing, said councilman John Lehman, but the town would have to have him do more than mow.
Councilman Douglas Ruch said if a town employee mowed the park, it would take most of the day to do the mowing and that would be money down the drain for the town.
A town employee, Lehman said, would make the park look nice all the time.
Siegfried said she didn't increase the town council's salaries because that is up to the council. She did raise the clerk's office salaries 5 percent, like the rest of the town employees. And with the increase in salaries, there was also an increase of $1,200 in Social Security and employee insurance.
Her total budget, she said, will be $237,000, up 3.86 percent, if approved.
"I think you did a very good job on that," Ruch told her.
The councilmen decided to wait until the rest of the budget is complete before making a decision as to whether or not to raise their salaries and by how much.
The fire department budget request for next year is the same as last year, Siegfried said. The fire department also included its "wants," including masks, a building generator, truck bay floor repair and a new base radio.
Ruch said the breathing apparatus and masks are something the town and township could look at together.
Siegfried said last year the town gave the fire department $14,569; Van Buren Township gave them $17,806; and Jefferson Township gave them $5,000. With money from fund-raisers, their budget was approximately $38,000. This year, they are requesting $40,751.
The councilmen figured their portion for the fire department budget for 2001 should be $16,087.95, a 10.4 percent increase.
Phillips asked, "What's the temperature for a new fire department building?"
Ruch said they would have to wait and see. He said it would be a nice asset to the community, but he thought they were stuck with what they have.
Lehman asked what last year's council thought about repairing the fire department floor. Ruch said the floor is a priority, but it wasn't to the prior council.
On the west side of Milford, Lehman said, residents can't hear the town's emergency siren. He asked what it would cost to have another siren on the west side of town. Ruch will check into it.
The last part of the budget discussed was the cumulative funds.
Siegfried said she wants to raise the CCI cigarette tax fund to $33,000 from $10,000 to cover the cost of a police car. She said they don't have to spend the money but wants to budget the money if they decide they will. The increase doesn't change the tax rate or anything else, Siegfried said.
The police education fund comes from fees for gun checks, donations and miscellaneous fees. Siegfried budgeted $900 for that for 2001.
Ruch asked if they could use some of that money for police public relations and take it out of the police budget. Charlotte said there is $3,800 in that cumulative fund. It isn't part of the tax rate, so they can do what they want with that. The councilmen decided to budget $1,000 of the police education cumulative fund for the police public relations and take the public relations request out of the police budget.
The cumulative sewer, Siegfried said, is budgeted at $60,000, to be used toward finishing the sewer separations at North Main Street. There is already $98,000 in the fund.
For the local roads and streets cumulative fund, Siegfried budgeted $30,000 and said there's $95,000 in that fund.
At their June 28 budget workshop at 6 p.m. the council will conclude their discussions by discussing the Capital Cumulative Development Fund and the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund.
Siegfried said the town will have to consider raising the water rates due to some expenses lately.
In other business, Siegfried reported the new members of the park board are Dr. Bob Cockburn and Pam Lehman.
Milford council members are Douglas Ruch, Bob Phillips and president John Lehman. [[In-content Ad]]
MILFORD -ÊFor the second time in two weeks, the Milford Town Council met to discuss the 2001 budget.
Clerk-Treasurer Charlotte Siegfried told the board the park department budget was approximately the same as last year, at $20,373.
The council discussed whether or not to provide a mower for the town to do its own mowing of the local park or if they want to continue to contract the mowing.
Councilman Bob Phillips said he would like to see Utilities and Street Department Commissioner Dallas Winchester take it over because "everything he touches turns to gold." He said he didn't see a problem with having the grass mowed by contract, but he thought it may be better for the town to do it themselves.
A part-time employee could do the mowing, said councilman John Lehman, but the town would have to have him do more than mow.
Councilman Douglas Ruch said if a town employee mowed the park, it would take most of the day to do the mowing and that would be money down the drain for the town.
A town employee, Lehman said, would make the park look nice all the time.
Siegfried said she didn't increase the town council's salaries because that is up to the council. She did raise the clerk's office salaries 5 percent, like the rest of the town employees. And with the increase in salaries, there was also an increase of $1,200 in Social Security and employee insurance.
Her total budget, she said, will be $237,000, up 3.86 percent, if approved.
"I think you did a very good job on that," Ruch told her.
The councilmen decided to wait until the rest of the budget is complete before making a decision as to whether or not to raise their salaries and by how much.
The fire department budget request for next year is the same as last year, Siegfried said. The fire department also included its "wants," including masks, a building generator, truck bay floor repair and a new base radio.
Ruch said the breathing apparatus and masks are something the town and township could look at together.
Siegfried said last year the town gave the fire department $14,569; Van Buren Township gave them $17,806; and Jefferson Township gave them $5,000. With money from fund-raisers, their budget was approximately $38,000. This year, they are requesting $40,751.
The councilmen figured their portion for the fire department budget for 2001 should be $16,087.95, a 10.4 percent increase.
Phillips asked, "What's the temperature for a new fire department building?"
Ruch said they would have to wait and see. He said it would be a nice asset to the community, but he thought they were stuck with what they have.
Lehman asked what last year's council thought about repairing the fire department floor. Ruch said the floor is a priority, but it wasn't to the prior council.
On the west side of Milford, Lehman said, residents can't hear the town's emergency siren. He asked what it would cost to have another siren on the west side of town. Ruch will check into it.
The last part of the budget discussed was the cumulative funds.
Siegfried said she wants to raise the CCI cigarette tax fund to $33,000 from $10,000 to cover the cost of a police car. She said they don't have to spend the money but wants to budget the money if they decide they will. The increase doesn't change the tax rate or anything else, Siegfried said.
The police education fund comes from fees for gun checks, donations and miscellaneous fees. Siegfried budgeted $900 for that for 2001.
Ruch asked if they could use some of that money for police public relations and take it out of the police budget. Charlotte said there is $3,800 in that cumulative fund. It isn't part of the tax rate, so they can do what they want with that. The councilmen decided to budget $1,000 of the police education cumulative fund for the police public relations and take the public relations request out of the police budget.
The cumulative sewer, Siegfried said, is budgeted at $60,000, to be used toward finishing the sewer separations at North Main Street. There is already $98,000 in the fund.
For the local roads and streets cumulative fund, Siegfried budgeted $30,000 and said there's $95,000 in that fund.
At their June 28 budget workshop at 6 p.m. the council will conclude their discussions by discussing the Capital Cumulative Development Fund and the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund.
Siegfried said the town will have to consider raising the water rates due to some expenses lately.
In other business, Siegfried reported the new members of the park board are Dr. Bob Cockburn and Pam Lehman.
Milford council members are Douglas Ruch, Bob Phillips and president John Lehman. [[In-content Ad]]