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MILFORD - Milford's clerk-treasurer, town marshal and fire chief made their 2002 budget presentations to the town council Monday.
And while the clerk's budget may slightly decrease, the police budget may increase by as much as $39,000.
Dave Hobbs, town marshal, told the council there are several reasons for the budget increase. First, he said, each police department employee's salary for 2002 included a 5 percent increase.
A large portion of the budget increase includes a new deputy for the department. The 2001 budget included the town's portion (approximately $12,400) for a new deputy if Milford received a federal grant, but the town didn't receive the grant. So to get a new deputy for 2002, the 2002 police budget includes an additional $17,000 to pay for the salary of a new deputy.
"We did not receive the grant," said Hobbs, "we will not receive a grant."
Clerk-treasurer Charlotte Siegfried said the town's worker's compensation will increase and "will hit us this year and next." The police department had several claims during the past year.
Hobbs said overtime pay was not scheduled in the budget because he believes it is something the council needs to address.
"Overtime is not budgeted in his budget at all," said Siegfried.
If overtime can decrease with a fourth officer, councilman Douglas Ruch said, it's a win-win situation.
Hobbs also said the employee medical insurance will need to go up 70 to 80 percent to approximately $35,000. Siegfried said that includes the hiring of a new officer.
Fuel for 2002 will increase by 50 percent, said Hobbs.
"Right now," he said, "we're running a little over what we budgeted for."
Liability insurance will increase by 20.4 percent this year, he said, and increased 23.33 percent last year.
Of the increase in his department's budget, Hobbs said, "It's all in wages, insurance and fuel."
"We have to decide in the near future," said council president John Lehman, "if we want to go with a new full-time officer or part-time."
The town, Siegfried said, has no control over their liability insurance and no clue about the increase in the price of fuel.
"We're high risk for the next three years," said Ruch.
The 2001 Milford Police Department budget, including salaries, is $191,800. The 2002 budget is estimated at $230,892.
Though Siegfried left the salaries blank on her 2002 budget request, she said she would like her salary and the salary of deputy clerk Shanna Maust brought up to what other similar towns are paying their employees. Currently, Siegfried makes $28,598 and Maust earns $23,304.
"(Maust) is making less than the utility maintenance workers and she has been here 13 years and somehow I don't think that's quite right," said Siegfried. Maust also has been helping the police department recently and Siegfried said she'd like for the police department to pay her something out of their budget. Ideally, Siegfried said, she'd like to see Maust earn $26,000-$27,000 a year and her annual income raised to $31,000-$33,000.
Topeka pays their clerk-treasurer $30,900 and North Webster pays their clerk-treasurer $31,000, Siegfried said. "They all have similar utilities to what we have," she said.
Lehman said jobs in one department can't compare to jobs in other departments.
"My point with Shanna is she's been here 13 years," said Siegfried.
Ruch said some consideration for the clerk's office needs to be made, but he wasn't sure how much. Job descriptions of employees in the clerk's office probably need to be clarified.
An increase in her budget, she said, is an increase in the liability insurance.
"We've taken on some of that expense," said Siegfried.
The clerk's 2001 budget is $238,400, while the 2002 budget, without salaries, is $194,670. Siegfried said that even with salaries, the department will probably still have a decrease in their budget.
"Not bad for a first time through," said councilman Robert Phillips.
"We will take the salary under advisement," said Ruch.
For the 2002 fire department budget, fire chief Todd Haines is requesting $42,254, not including items from the fire department's "Christmas wish list." The 2001 budget was $40,751. A portion of the budget will be paid by Jefferson Township, with the remaining budget being paid 40 percent by the town of Milford and 60 percent by Van Buren Township.
"Everything we bumped up was basically because of fuel and stuff like that," said Haines, including utility services.
If the council decides to help fund some of the items on the fire department's wish list, Siegfried said, "We will have money left for those things at the end of the year."
Two of the items the fire department wants are individual air masks for each of the firefighters and a new generator. Haines said the "generator is probably the one thing I'd like to have looked at."
"Being the first budget we heard, I think it's a very conservative budget," said Ruch.
The council will continue to receive proposed department budgets Monday at 7 p.m. and will finalize the town's 2002 budget July 9.
In other matters, the council:
• Set an executive session for 6 p.m. Monday to discuss personnel matters regarding Lou Mediano, with the budget meeting at 7 p.m.
• Set a public meeting for 6:30 p.m. July 9 to discuss the water/sewer rate increase, with the regular meeting to follow at 7 p.m.
