Milford Holds Budget Workshops
June 27, 2020 at 12:31 a.m.
By Denise Federow-
Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall reported that she doesn’t have a proposed total for the entire budget yet since changes need to be made in a couple of funds as the estimated revenue is not expected to be as much as the proposed budgets.
The town is considering a 4%-across-the-board proposed wage increase for town employees and an estimated 20% increase in health insurance and 8% increase in general liability insurance across the board for each department.
The Street/Motor Vehicle Highway fund is proposed at $480,586.55 for 2021 versus this year’s $451,416, with no substantial increases or decreases besides the wage and insurance increases.
The Parks Department budget is proposing removing $6,240 for security and transferring that amount to the police budget instead and adding employee wages of $6,500. They’ve also removed $12,000 for a security system that was purchased this year. The proposed park budget for 2021 is $42,983.40, while it was $53,395 for 2020. Gall said that is a 19.5% decrease.
The police budget has “very few changes” other than the wage and insurance increases. They’re proposing increasing the part-time budget by $500 and increasing the repairs and maintenance budget by $1,500, but that increase is offset by a decrease of $1,500 in the software budget. The proposed 2021 police budget is $481,816 versus the 2020 budget of $451,390.
The fire department is proposing an increase of $2,000, or 2.6%, for equipment and gear. As a volunteer fire department, the department is funded by the town of Milford, Van Buren Township and a small portion of Jefferson Township. Gall said the town’s portion of the budget for 2020 was $31,325 and she anticipates that will be $1,000 more for 2021.
The general/clerk-treasurer’s budget is looking for a few increases aside from the wage and insurance increases. They’re proposing an increase in the education fund from $2,000 to $4,000; office supplies from $2,000 to $3,000; building inspection increase from $1,500 to $2,000; dues and fees increase by $1,000; trash pickup 3% increase per contract; capital improvements increase of $300 and public relations increase from $4,000 to $6,000 for the REACH alert program. They’re anticipating a decrease of $1,000 in repairs for a proposed 2021 budget of $344,693 versus the 2020 budget of $330,691.
Gall said the water and wastewater budgets created the most discussions. For the water department, they’re proposing an increase of $8,000 in gas, diesel and professional services and $7,000 for repairs and maintenance.
The proposed 2021 budget of $555,467.24 is an increase, compared to the 2020 budget of $452,760. Gall said based on the revenue estimate of $218,000 “That’s a large gap so they started carrying things out.”
She said they cut $175,000 in capital improvements to replace water lines to $100 and new equipment fund of $34,000 was cut to $100 and they also cut professional services from $47,000 to $15,000.
Gall said council members thought that some of those items may be covered by County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) or some other funding sources “unless the revenue picks up.”
They also decided to change the way they allocated the water, streets and park superintendents’ wages, taking 55% from streets, 30% from water and 15% from wastewater.
The wastewater proposed budget is taking out $55,028 of employees wages because they have an apprentice; increased the chemicals by $2,000; decreased dues, fees and rental from $23,000 down to $9,000. The utility, which is the biggest expense, remains the same. The wastewater superintendent has been taking measures to conserve energy. They also proposed a $10,000 increase in maintenance, bond and interest increase of $7,000 and a $300 increase in capital improvements.
The proposed wastewater budget for 2021 is $623,719.50 versus $672,461 for this year. Even though it’s less than this year, there’s still a big gap from the expected estimated revenue of $450,000.
They cut capital improvement and machinery and equipment back to $25,000 and cut professional service from $10,000 to $3,000.
Gall said they did raise rates last year but only half the amount suggested. She said they’ll be reviewing the rate study and also asking for a list of capital improvements needed.
Other funds like local roads and streets, cumulative sewer, rainy day fund and riverboat fund all are proposed to be the same as 2020 with the exception of CEDIT, which they are proposing a raise of $50,000 from $150,000 to $200,000.
Gall said the next step is to meet with the Department of Local Government Finance. It will probably be August or September before the budget comes up again by the council.
Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall reported that she doesn’t have a proposed total for the entire budget yet since changes need to be made in a couple of funds as the estimated revenue is not expected to be as much as the proposed budgets.
The town is considering a 4%-across-the-board proposed wage increase for town employees and an estimated 20% increase in health insurance and 8% increase in general liability insurance across the board for each department.
The Street/Motor Vehicle Highway fund is proposed at $480,586.55 for 2021 versus this year’s $451,416, with no substantial increases or decreases besides the wage and insurance increases.
The Parks Department budget is proposing removing $6,240 for security and transferring that amount to the police budget instead and adding employee wages of $6,500. They’ve also removed $12,000 for a security system that was purchased this year. The proposed park budget for 2021 is $42,983.40, while it was $53,395 for 2020. Gall said that is a 19.5% decrease.
The police budget has “very few changes” other than the wage and insurance increases. They’re proposing increasing the part-time budget by $500 and increasing the repairs and maintenance budget by $1,500, but that increase is offset by a decrease of $1,500 in the software budget. The proposed 2021 police budget is $481,816 versus the 2020 budget of $451,390.
The fire department is proposing an increase of $2,000, or 2.6%, for equipment and gear. As a volunteer fire department, the department is funded by the town of Milford, Van Buren Township and a small portion of Jefferson Township. Gall said the town’s portion of the budget for 2020 was $31,325 and she anticipates that will be $1,000 more for 2021.
The general/clerk-treasurer’s budget is looking for a few increases aside from the wage and insurance increases. They’re proposing an increase in the education fund from $2,000 to $4,000; office supplies from $2,000 to $3,000; building inspection increase from $1,500 to $2,000; dues and fees increase by $1,000; trash pickup 3% increase per contract; capital improvements increase of $300 and public relations increase from $4,000 to $6,000 for the REACH alert program. They’re anticipating a decrease of $1,000 in repairs for a proposed 2021 budget of $344,693 versus the 2020 budget of $330,691.
Gall said the water and wastewater budgets created the most discussions. For the water department, they’re proposing an increase of $8,000 in gas, diesel and professional services and $7,000 for repairs and maintenance.
The proposed 2021 budget of $555,467.24 is an increase, compared to the 2020 budget of $452,760. Gall said based on the revenue estimate of $218,000 “That’s a large gap so they started carrying things out.”
She said they cut $175,000 in capital improvements to replace water lines to $100 and new equipment fund of $34,000 was cut to $100 and they also cut professional services from $47,000 to $15,000.
Gall said council members thought that some of those items may be covered by County Economic Development Income Tax (CEDIT) or some other funding sources “unless the revenue picks up.”
They also decided to change the way they allocated the water, streets and park superintendents’ wages, taking 55% from streets, 30% from water and 15% from wastewater.
The wastewater proposed budget is taking out $55,028 of employees wages because they have an apprentice; increased the chemicals by $2,000; decreased dues, fees and rental from $23,000 down to $9,000. The utility, which is the biggest expense, remains the same. The wastewater superintendent has been taking measures to conserve energy. They also proposed a $10,000 increase in maintenance, bond and interest increase of $7,000 and a $300 increase in capital improvements.
The proposed wastewater budget for 2021 is $623,719.50 versus $672,461 for this year. Even though it’s less than this year, there’s still a big gap from the expected estimated revenue of $450,000.
They cut capital improvement and machinery and equipment back to $25,000 and cut professional service from $10,000 to $3,000.
Gall said they did raise rates last year but only half the amount suggested. She said they’ll be reviewing the rate study and also asking for a list of capital improvements needed.
Other funds like local roads and streets, cumulative sewer, rainy day fund and riverboat fund all are proposed to be the same as 2020 with the exception of CEDIT, which they are proposing a raise of $50,000 from $150,000 to $200,000.
Gall said the next step is to meet with the Department of Local Government Finance. It will probably be August or September before the budget comes up again by the council.
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