Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MILFORD -ÊMonday, the Milford Town Council finished its budget workshops by hearing the 2003 budget requests from the fire department and EMS.
Todd Haines, fire department, told the council the department's total request for 2003 is $44,367. The 2002 budget is $42,254. Milford pays approximately 55 percent of the department's budget, while Van Buren Township pays about 45 percent and Jefferson Township contributes several thousand dollars each year.
"It looks like a very good, conservative budget to me," said councilman Douglas Ruch. "I'm very pleased with that."
Haines also discussed with the council the purchase of a new fire truck for next year. Although they have estimates for a new truck's specifications, Haines said, he knows they can get cheaper bids. By the time all the bidding and manufacturing of the truck is complete, he said, it will take eight months to a year to get the truck.
Clerk-treasurer Charlotte Siegfried said the money for a new truck can be budgeted but that doesn't mean they have to spend it.
Haines will continue to look further into the cost and specifications for a new truck.
"The more bids we can get in, the better it will be for us," said council president John Lehman.
For 2003, Siegfried said, EMS is requesting $23,000, compared to $18,000 for 2002. She said they could increase the EMS budget a little but "not clear past $18,000." She suggested possibly $20,000.
Siegfried then read the totals of other funds, which included: motor vehicle highway, $211,672; general budget, $523,665; cigarette tax, $20,000; cumulative capital improvement, $40,000; local roads and streets, $40,000; cumulative sewer, $20,000; police education, $1,900; park non-reverting, $3,000; economic development income tax, $80,000; cumulative capital development, approximately $50,000-$60,000.
In other business, the council approved Siegfried to purchase new hardware and software for utility billing from J.A. Business Service Inc. and Keystone, totaling approximately $11,095.
Town councilmen are Douglas Ruch, John Lehman and Robert Phillips. They meet in the town hall at 7 p.m. on the second Monday of every month.
