December 30, 2004

Council passes ’05 Village budget

See the 2004 and 2005 budget comparison chart below

By Robert Mihalek

Village Council adopted last week a Village budget for 2005 that includes 29 capital improvement projects totaling $1.06 million.

That’s an increase over the 2004 budget, which contained more than 20 capital projects totaling over $918,000. Some of the projects budgeted for 2004 were never completed or carried out and have been included in the 2005 budget.

The 2005 budget shows that total Village revenue is expected to increase by less than 1 percent, or $49,747, to $6,383,138 from $6,333,391 budgeted in 2004.

Total expenditures are projected to decline by less than 1 percent, or $11,926, to $7,364,713 in 2005, from $7,376,639 in 2004.

Total wages and benefits for Village employees are expected to increase $84,874, or 3.4 percent, to $2,584,068 in 2005 from $2,499,194, which was budgeted for 2004. Budget worksheets from both 2004 and 2005 show that the Village expected to employ 33 full-time positions.

At its meeting on Dec. 20, Council approved the budget by a vote of 4–0. Council member Denise Swinger was absent. There was little actual discussion on the budget from Council, and no one offered comments or asked questions during the public hearing on the ordinance adopting the budget. (Council reviewed the budget with Village staffers during two workshops in November.)

After the vote on the budget, Council President Tony Arnett said, “In the first time in modern memory, we have passed a budget before the year starts.”

The 2005 budget is considered balanced, as Village officials define it, meaning that projected revenues are not expected to be higher than day-to-day operating costs, which do not include capital spending.

Budget reserves for four of the Village’s five main funds — the multi-fund, or general fund, and the four utilities — are projected to be at least 25 percent of each fund’s revenue, meeting a target for year-end fund balances set by Council. Hillard has said that year-end balances of 8 to 12 percent are sufficient.

These funds are the multi-fund, electric and water systems and the solid waste fund. The sewer fund is expected to end the year with $23,229, which is three percent of the fund’s regular operating costs.

Year-end reserves for three of the Village’s funds — the multi-fund, electric and sewer — are projected to decline.

Spending in seven of the multi-fund’s 17 activities are projected to increase.

The most significant project planned for 2005 is the completion of the Dayton Street sewer project, which includes upgrading the sewer line on Dayton between Wright Street and East Enon Road. The total cost of the project is $550,000 to $600,000. The Village has applied for $444,000 in state funding, and has budgeted $107,500 in taxpayer funds for the project. Miami Township has also pledged funding since the line will service the commerce park planned for East Enon and Dayton-Yellow Springs Road.

Council plans to spend an estimated $150,000 in Village green space funds to build a two-acre retention pond on the Glass Farm, which the Village owns.

Multi-fund activities are planning for the largest number of capital projects, 14, including a new salt barn, $80,000; mini-excavator, $45,000; new police car, $25,000; weapons for the Police Department, $15,700; and improvements to the library building, $15,000. The budget includes $30,000 in improvements for channel 13, the local cable access station.

The Public Works Department, which includes streets, electric, water and sewer, will contribute a total of $130,000 to build a new facility for the Public Works crew at the Sutton Farm on State Route 343.

The electric system plans to upgrade the power line on East Enon Road and on part of Dayton Street for $84,000, purchase a new bucket truck for $102,000 and upgrade substation controls for $30,000. The electric and water systems will split the costs of a $35,000 truck.

The water system has budgeted $41,500 in system improvements. The sewer system is funding $16,000 in improvements at the wastewater treatment plant and a $15,000 study of the treatment plant.