Leesburg Considers 3% Budget Increase For Roads, Curbs
Posted
Deb McAuliffe Sprong-
LEESBURG – The town of Leesburg is looking at a 2-1/2 to 3% increase for its 2020 budget.
In presenting the proposed budget Monday, Clerk-treasurer Mike Searfoss said the increase is keeping pace with inflation.
The town’s 2019 budget was $272,515; an increase of 3% would bring next year’s figure to $280,690.
Board member Tom Moore said he wanted to earmark extra money for streets, curbs and gutters, because of the increase in the cost of street repairs.
Board President Christina Archer asked if the money could go toward curbs on Van Buren Street.
Board member Doug Jones said a couple of alleys “are in real bad shape,” but Moore said the curbs on Van Buren Street are a “much greater priority.”
Moore said if they were able to add 3% to the budget, they could do half a block of Van Buren Street a year, and should be able to replace the curbs all along Van Buren in two to three years.
Searfoss suggested the council would need less for utilities and phones next year.
Moore asked whether the assistant clerk’s position could be eliminated, but “the state says she’s necessary,” Searfoss said.
While Searfoss pays the bills, he said, the assistant clerk balances the bank statements each month, providing a form of “internal controls” that protects the town.
“I hadn’t thought about that other set of eyes and hands,” Moore said.
He wondered about an outside CPA coming in once a month, but then said the cost might even go up.
All three board members were pleased with the direction the town is moving in. Archer said they’ve been “checking stuff off an ongoing list for the last 10 years,” and now that the town hall is renovated, “we can move ahead with some of these other things on the list,” like curbs.
Archer said after the workshop that an auditor from the state is coming to review the proposed budget on July 23, to see whether any adjustments are necessary.
She said she hopes the board is able to vote on the budget at its Aug. 12 meeting.
