City Reviews Non-Profit, Airport, Other 2013 Budget Proposals
Posted
Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
Warsaw City Council heard from non-profit and cemetery, airport and human resources department heads on their proposed budgets for 2013 Monday night.
The city will review city departmental budgets at its Aug. 20 council meeting.
A 3-percent increase on wages for all city employees is being proposed in 2013.
The first public hearing for the budgets is Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. at city hall.
On Oct. 1 at 7 p.m., the proposed budget will get its first reading; and on Oct. 15 at 7 p.m. the budget will be considered for adoption.
The deadline to adopt 2013 budgets, rates and levies is Nov. 1.
During Monday night’s meeting, Karl Swihart, City-County Athletic Complex director, said the department is requesting $31,000 in 2013 from the city. That is the same amount it requested in 2012.
Warsaw Mayor Joe Thallemer requested the city reduce the CCAC funding by $11,000 to $20,000.
Thallemer said the $11,000 in funding for a bike and pedestrian plan will lead the greenway and bike and pedestrian master plan out to the CCAC.
Swihart said the CCAC needs to redo its ball diamonds this year, and work on grants to repair the parking lot.
Darla McCammon, Animal Welfare League of Kosciusko County, presented the 2013 budget proposal.
The AWL requested $16,500 in 2012, and is requesting $17,500 in 2013.
McCammon said the department has operated without an increase for several years, and it is creating a hardship.
She said especially hard-hitting have been the medical cost increases. Dog and cat food and vaccine costs used to care for the animals has increased.
McCammon also said an increase in funding is needed to pay staff. There are 15 staff, not including McCammon, who work approximately 30 hours per week and earn an average of less than $12,000 per year.
Last year’s budget provided $67,442.28 for animal care. This year’s projected numbers show $80,340 is needed.
Pam Kennedy, Housing Opportunities of Warsaw executive director, presented 2013 budget requests for HOW.
Kennedy said HOW is requesting $25,000 for 2013. That is the same it requested in 2012. HOW administers housing grants with funding from federal, state and local funders.
Matt Boren, Kosciusko Area Bus Services director, presented a 2013 budget proposal for the organization.
KABS is requesting the city provide the organization with $19,055 for 2013. KABS requested $18,500 last year. This is a 3-percent increase, or $5,000, and is due to increased costs of operations.
Boren said KABS has received reductions in its funding from Indiana Department of Transportation. That has caused the department to end one of its full-time routes and will cut an additional route before Oct. 1.
KABS currently has a staff with one full-time and two part-time employees. This year KABS is transitioning to three full-time positions.
Boren said the 2013 budget is the first time in three years that KABS is asking for an increase in city funding to add a fourth full-time position in 2013.
Boren said the existing support of office manager and program manager can keep current levels of activities functioning, but if projects are to expand and meet levels that shovel-ready sites, shell buildings and prospect marketing entail, a project manager needs to be hired.
George Robertson, Kosciusko Economic Development Corp. president, presented a 2013 budget to the city.
KEDCO requested $50,000 in 2012, and is requesting $55,000 in 2013.
The increase is to assist with full service economic development including business retention, attraction and new business start up.
Robertson said a Michigan-based orthopedic company is looking into moving into the Iconacy Orthopaedic Implants facility at 4130 Corridor Drive. The company would create 65 orthopedic jobs.
Mark Dobson, Warsaw-Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce president, presented the 2013 budget for Warsaw Community Development Corp.
WCDC is requesting $12,600 in funding from the city for operations in 2013. That is the same amount it requested in 2012.
WCDC’s mission is to encourage economic development in the downtown through people, buildings, businesses and land.
In November, Cindy Dobbins, WCDC director, announced her retirement.
The board of directors conducted a search for a new executive director and in April made a decision to hire the Warsaw-Kosciusko County Chamber of Commerce to oversee WCDC.
Also during the meeting, the council reviewed the airport, cemetery and human resources 2013 budget.
David Beall, airport manager, presented the 2013 budget proposal. The budget estimate for 2013 for the airport is $752,608, a $10,886 decrease from the 2012 budget.
The aviation depreciation budget for 2013 is being proposed at $90,000, a $45,000 increase over the 2012 budget.
There is $65,000 in the aviation depreciation budget for power line lowering for the airport runway extension project in 2013.
Hal Heagy, Oakwood Cemetery sexton, presented the cemetery’s budget. The 2013 budget estimate is $573,828. This is a $9,968 increase over the 2012 budget.
Salaries and wages are up 1 percent; utility services are up $1,000; repairs and maintenance is up $4,000 and machinery and equipment is up $218.
The department wants to purchase a $30,000 pickup truck and a $14,679 mower.
The cemetery permanent fund budget proposal for 2013 is $27,000 and is down $143,000.
There is $22,000 in the budget for a new cremation garden, and $5,000 for trees for the new section of the cemetery.
The city’s human resources budget proposal for 2013 is $92,025. The 2012 budget was $97,569.
