SYRACUSE - Continued discussion concerning the town's 2008 budget was a topic of the Syracuse Town Council Monday.
The first meeting in which the council started working with budget figures was held last Tuesday, and an initial summary was presented during Monday's meeting.
Syracuse will be in a position where the town will not have to increase the local property tax levy. The amount of tax dollars needed in 2008 will be about the same as the 2007 amounts.Initial budget amounts, in part, approved by council are: clerk's office, $468,794; town manager, $172,903; police, $763,969; fire, $150,000; dispatch, $240,635. Total general fund is $1,796,301.
Also included are initial budgets for the following expenditures: street department, $633,363; parks, $319,751; local roads and streets, $110,000 (Syracuse-Webster Road); cumulative capital improvement property tax, $150,000 (street department garage); cumulative storm, $80,000 (Syracuse-Webster Road, $75,000; sewer repairs $5,000); CCI cigarette tax, $17,000 (community/retail revolving loan fund); cumulative capital development, $117,000 (Community Center lease payment, $42,000; Syracuse-Webster Road, $75,000); cumulative park, $17,000 (Community Center lease); cumulative fire, $3,560 (Suburban lease); Riverboat revenue sharing, $19,000 (sidewalks, $14,000; trees $5,000); Rainy Day Fund, $15,000 (emergency housing rehabilitation); Economic Development Income Tax, $25,000 (engineering, economic development).
In addition to these amounts, the public works department submitted a change order claim. The change involves catch basins for the southeast corridor storm sewer project. Four catch basins need to be installed, but the original order only called for two, and was budgeted as such. The council approved the change order and the cost for each catch basin at $2,402.60.
This change order did not impact the budget discussion, and was necessary for inclusion. Advertising dates for the budget are Aug. 22 and Aug. 29, with first reading scheduled for Sept. 4 at 7 a.m. Second reading and adoption of the 2008 budget will be held Sept. 18.
Further business in regard to the budget involved the council approving a new agreement between the town of Syracuse and Turkey Creek Township for fire and EMS expenses. This entails a general fund reduction for the fire department budget of $258,872.75 and an EMS reduction of $254,900,56.
This reduction in the fire department budget is the result of the contract agreement signed with the township last October. The town is responsible for one-third of the total fire budget they are contracted to pay back to the township. In the case of EMS, almost the entire budget has been eliminated because the organization has become self-supporting.
A resolution to waive the permit fee for garage sales during Syracuse Days was passed. This resolution is in keeping with the yearly tradition of the Chamber of Commerce approaching the council to request these fees be dropped during the annual Sidewalk Days, part of a larger town celebration. The event is scheduled for Aug. 9-11.
Pam Kennedy, Housing Opportunities of Warsaw, addressed the council in regard to the grant application for the Owner Occupied Home Repair Program. This grant had been applied for before, but Syracuse did not receive it. Kennedy mentioned that since that time, more information has been requested of the council regarding factors that can make certain lower income home owners eligible for the loans available through this grant.
After some discussion, the council approved a resolution authorizing re-application for this grant.
In other business:
n The council appropriated $15,000 for the Housing Opportunities of Syracuse program.
n Syracuse Police Department answered 440 calls for service in June.
n Police Chief Tony Ciriello announced he has been asked to serve as a moderator for the Kosciusko County Youth Leadership Academy.
n The council approved $10,050 for tree work to be done by Superior Tree Service, Columbia City.
n The parks department received a $15,000 grant from the Dekko Foundation of Kendallville.
n New trash stickers will be distributed, starting next Monday. The clerk's office will be open 7:30 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Thursday; Friday, 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.; Saturday (July 28 and Aug. 4) 9-11 a.m. The first pickup with the new stickers will be Aug. 6. The entire town will have trash pickup on Mondays only starting Aug. 6.
Syracuse Town Council members are: Paul Stoelting, Brian Woody, Larry Siegel, William Musser and Cassandra Cowan.
