The city council heard budget recommendations Monday, looking at figures presented by department heads with no clue as to assessed valuation.

"I've been told to use 80 percent of last year's assessed valuation," said clerk Elaine Call, echoing statements made by clerks in other municipalities the past few weeks.

"No one has a clue what our tax revenues will be," Mayor Ernie Wiggins said of the state government's tax restructuring. "No one has told us what our true assessment is."

This year's budgets are based on 80 percent of what last year's certified AV was or $526 million.

A three percent salary increase was built into the budget(s) of each department and also will be reflected in salaries paid to elected officials. The salary ordinance has not been prepared. It will be ready, the mayor said, and sent to council members prior to the Sept. 3 meeting, when the first public hearing on the budget will be held.

Wiggins said one significant change to the police pension budget is the "drop program" wherein police officers 52 years old or older and who have 20 years on their respective forces may retire on a chosen date.

The city will then be responsible for 50 percent of their pension payout in a lump sum or installments.

The state will pay the other half. Operations Sgt. Larry Engle of the police department gave two examples: He has been an officer 27 years and Sgt. Doug Brumfield has 32 years on the force. If they chose to "drop" out in 2006. Brumfield would be owed $99,000 and Engle $60,000. However, if they chose to retire one year early or if they choose not to retire on the set date they would receive their regular pension.

The first payoff wouldn't be until Jan. 1, 2004, and $50,000 was added to the pensions budget for 2003 to cover costs. That amount will continue to be added until 2007, when the program ends.

Wiggins said the state has pretty much passed on the costs to the citizens.

The police pension budget is $393,842.

Five men and seven dependents are provided pension payments totaling 203,453.62 each year. Brumfield, Engle, Steve Foster and Paul Schmitt are eligible to retire this year. If they retire, the cost would be $117,862.49 annually.

The council did not question the police department budget which totaled $3,439,709.

Other budgets studied include:

• The mayor's budget of $93,117, up $500 from last year.

• Human resource: $38,464, which includes half the director's salary and an initial $6,650 for office equipment.

The other half of the director's salary comes out of sewage collections, a total of $40,600. Wiggins said three final candidates will be interviewed next Tuesday.

• Clerk's office: $201,279.

• Common council: $956,508 which includes $250,000 for gas and electric bills (city hall, traffic and street lights); $200,000 insurance; $301,468 professional services; $30,000 for next year's election; $25,000 as seed money for the HyettPalma recommended facade program; and $34,000 to the CCAC.

The last item, payment to the City/County Athletic Complex was cause for conversation.

Jerry Patterson said he thought 10-year contract ended in 2002 and was going toward a loan payment.

"I thought we were going to revisit this every year, there comes a time when we need to back off," he said.

Wiggins said it's a valuable resource initiated by the city, "in fact, we may be doing more."

The current funds are garnered from the city's share of Insight Communications franchise fees.

Another $12,000 for the CCAC is an item in the park's cumulative capital improvement budget.

The mayor said there are other tax levies that could be used, like the innkeeper's tax.

Seventeen businesses also have contributed to the CCAC, for a total of $1,051,000 per year since 1993.

Council contracts total $301,468 representing the total amounts asked for by agencies such as: $14,520 to the Animal Welfare League, $45,498 to Kosciusko Area Bus Service; $12,000 to Warsaw Community Development Corp.; and $25,000 for Housing Opportunities of Warsaw.

• Police department: $3,439,709 which was presented in detail showing costs of items and programs.

Police chief Steve Foster hopes to spend $120,000 for paving and $14,000 for a canopy over the gas pumps. There is also an increase of $98,000 for radio interface with central dispatch and $17,000 for ammunition.

• Fire department: up five percent the total was $2,079,204.

Fire chief Matt Warren said the department is going to conduct its own fire prevention program and do away with the national Fire Safety Council at a cost of $4,000.

The training category was increased by $5,000 so more men could attend the conference and training seminar held in Indianapolis.

The fire department pension fund totals $330,234 paying seven men $178,270 and three dependents $45,840 per year.

• Building and planning department: increased 2.25 percent and shows a $25,000 item for trees and shrubs and $10,000 for a beautification task force; and $25 for land acquisition, for a total of $396,575.

• Parks department: increased five percent and includes a new hourly employee, the first since 1988; $40,000 for a garbage truck to replace the 1982 model and $32,000 for a new 3/4 ton pick-up truck, for a total of $1,362,335.

The parks also plans to spend $8,110 in revenues - the non-reverting budget - for several programs next year.

The cumulative capital improvement budget includes $12,000 to the CCAC, $40,000 for a new multi-purpose gymnasium floor and $10,000 for construction of bike trails.

• Oakwood Cemetery: increased by $37,000 for a total of $386,684 and includes $7,000 for a new roof for the office and garage; $24,500 for a new truck and $3,500 for a snow plow.

The cemetery's permanent budget is $12,500.

• Aviation Depreciation Fund: $80,000 to repave airport drive and purchase a power sweeper.

The aviation general fund totaled $541,696, a two percent increase.

City council members are Jerry Patterson, Bill Rhoades, Charlie Smith, Jeff Grose, Trish Brown and Joe Thallemer. [[In-content Ad]]