SYRACUSE - The Syracuse Town Council approved the town's budget for 2008 on the third and final reading.
This has been an ongoing process for the council and at this meeting, there was no public input or discussion. The final numbers as adopted by council are as follows.
General fund $1,171,301
MVH-Street fund 669,363
Parks and recreation 319,751
Cumulative Fire Dept. 3,560
Cumulative Park 17,000
CCI-Property Tax 150,000
Cumulative Storm 80,000
Law Enforcement Cont. Ed. 5,000
Cumulative Capital Development 117,000
Local Roads and Streets 110,000
River boat Revenue Sharing 19,000
CCI-Cigarette Tax 17,000
Rainy Day fund 15,000
Ec. Dev. Income Tax 25,000
Total $3,318,975
The current tax levy (2007) is $1,564,492. For the 2008 budget, the maximum estimated funds to be raised are $1,563,807 which puts the current budget under the maximum levy required. This is based on Syracuse net assessed value of $172,077,206.
In other budget matters, council approved the payment of claims for the month of September in the total amount of $389,637.03.
The town's salary ordinance also was adopted. As follows, the annual salaries for elected officials, town manager and legal council were set at: President of town council, $4,570; other council members, $4,015; clerk-treasurer, $48,850.94, plus longevity; town manager, $56,100 plus longevity; town attorney, $15,300.
Department heads' annual compensation were set as follows: Town marshal, $49,168.08 plus longevity; parks superintendent, $43,490.72 plus longevity.
Salaries of the street and water superintendent and the wastewater superintendent were undetermined.
The clerk-treasurer's hourly employees will be paid a minimum of $6.55 per hour to a maximum of $18.32 per hour, plus hourly longevity.
Other annual salaries include: Police captain, $41,689.79, plus longevity; police sergeant, $41,689.79 plus longevity; police master deputy marshal, $40,598.63 plus longevity; deputy marshal, $32,273.90, plus longevity; crossing guard, $2,795.09; part time officer, minimum $6.55 per hour, maximum $18.32 per hour; police secretary/matron, minimum $6.55 per hour; maximum $18.32 per hour; dispatchers, $31,753.11.
Probationary and/or entry level dispatchers, $26,066.50; relief dispatchers, minimum $6.55 per hour; maximum $12.64 per hour
Other salaries include: Park maintenance, minimum $6.55 per hour, maximum $20.87 per hour; hourly park employees, minimum $6.55 per hour, maximum $18.32 per hour; life guards, minimum $6.55 per hour, maximum $12.28 per hour.
Street, water, and wastewater department hourly employees will be paid a minimum of $6.55 per hour to a maximum $20.87 per hour.
The town manager's department hourly employees will be paid a minimum of $6.55 per hour to a maximum $22.81 per hour.
Council also passed two resolutions during the meeting. The first authorized the use of the county economic development income tax and described a capital improvement plan for those funds.
This allows a county unit to adopt and impose the County Economic Development Income tax. The money raised will be used to complete construction of an industrial park, which includes the related infrastructure and utilities, including water and sewer. Total estimated cost is $1,500,000. Development will likely take place over a period of three years.
The second resolution on the payment of initial construction cost for the Forest Park subdivision water and sewer utility project.
Since the town recently annexed the area known as Forest Park, and the residents of the area have expressed the need to connect to the town's water and sewer services, the town of Syracuse has agreed to issue bonds, or to incur the debt by loan , to finance the cost of this project. This resolution gives the city the power to begin the project.
Syracuse Town Manager Henry DeJulia gave a presentation regarding a proposed enhancement program along Ind. 13, from Chicago Street to Pickwick Drive. The proposed enhancement of the area would include lighted landscaping, decorative lighting and planters.
A discussion on the possible need to plant trees along the route also was part of the presentation. NIPSCO, Embarq and INDOT all would need to have input during all phases of the project as well, since power and phone lines and traffic rights of way are concerned. According to DeJulia, the initial estimate of cost was $30,920. However, the project only is in the beginning stage of development, and he will bring more information to the next council meeting.
Town Marshal Tony Ciriello discussed with council the ongoing concern regarding skateboarding in the downtown area. A recent meeting involving several business owners, representatives of the Syracuse Chamber of Commerce, and the police department was held to see if the existing skateboard ordinance could be either changed or enforced better.
While the safety of the kids involved is everyone's concern, business owners also raised the issue of what kind of liability would they face should an incident involving a skateboarder happen at or near a business.
A proposal was made that all skateboarding should be eliminated in the business (both commercial and industrial) areas. Developing a better route to the skate park also is an issue, as are the penalties that repeat offenders could face.
While Ciriello presented a draft ordinance on the issue, he decided to withhold it until next meeting and resubmit with different wording in regard to where skateboarding would be allowed and exact penalties for infractions.
In other business:
n The Arts Festival is scheduled for the downtown area, this Saturday, Sept. 22.
n The Homecoming Parade is scheduled for Oct. 5 and will go from the Community Center to the high school. Time will be announced later.
n The intersection of Beach Street and Mullens will become a four way stop. The yield signs on Mullens will be changed to stop signs.
n Oct. 25 and 26, the annual Haunted House will be held at the Youth Center. On Oct. 27, the Community Center will host the Halloween Carnival
Syracuse Town Council members are Larry Siegel, Bill Musser, Cassie Cowan, Brian Woody, and Paul Stoeling.
