Village coffers benefit from unexpected 2007 revenues

By Diane Chiddister

At Village Council’s Dec. 17 meeting, Village Manager Eric Swansen gave an educational presentation on the Village budget, including revenue sources and expenditures of the 2007 general fund. Council, which includes two newly elected members, will make decisions on the 2008 budget in January.

In 2007, the Village general fund had revenues of $3,275,824, according to a written report by Swansen, and expenditures and transfers of $3,070,394. The Village had several sources of unexpected revenues in 2007, according to Swansen, including one-time estate tax revenues of $256,681, a one-time personal property tax phase out of $30,000, $18,000 in undercollection of property tax and $11,000 in income tax revenues above the amount anticipated.

Because the unexpected revenues were one-time only, Swansen cautioned Council against using them for operational purposes.

The largest segment of the Village budget is the general fund, which last year received 40 percent of its revenue from income taxes, 22 percent from the five-year property tax levy, 11 percent from state shared estate tax, 8.3 percent from state shared revenues, 4.8 percent from the KWH tax, 4 percent from inside property tax, 3.2 percent from interest, 1.6 percent from fines, 1.4 percent from rentals, 1.3 percent from cable franchise, 2.3 percent from miscellaneous and .07 percent from permit fees, according to the written report.

The general fund provides revenues for most Village services, including Council, the Mayor’s Court, parks and recreation, administration, the library building upkeep, cable TV, public safety and mediation. It also transfers funds into the street maintenance fund and the police pension fund.

In 2007, 22 percent of general fund revenues, or $868,634, was transferred to the street maintenance repair fund, which also had revenues of $115,800 from gas and permissive taxes, for a total of $984,434. Of that amount, 60 percent was used for public works improvements, 21 percent for personnel, 9 percent for contract services, 7 percent for materials and services and 3 percent for capital equipment, according to the written report.

The parks and recreation fund received 10.6 percent of general fund revenues, or $312,989, along with revenues of $51,460 from user fees and donations. The upkeep of Bryan Center took 63 percent of the parks fund, the Gaunt Park pool took 19.4 percent of the parks fund, the parks program used 16.7 percent, and the youth program used 0.9 percent. Total expenditures were $364,449.

Other general fund expenditures included 10.9 percent for administration, 35.9 percent for public safety, 5.2 percent for Village Council, 7.1 percent for planning, 1.4 percent for the mayor’s office, 1.4 percent for the audit, 0.2 percent for mediation, 0.5 percent for the library amd 0.3 percent for cable TV.

In other Council business:
• During citizens’ concerns, Pat Olds of the Accessibility Committee expressed her disappointment that the Village has not yet repaired sidewalks on Xenia Avenue, which she believes are hazardous to those in wheelchairs. She also stated that the recently completed YS Federal Credit Union building and the Village Train Station are out of compliance with ADA standards because the buildings do not have an automatic door opener, she said.

The Village only has authority over its own building, according to Swansen, who said that the Train Station men’s bathroom door does stick and will be repaired soon. However, other doors in the building are deemed workable, he said, and the ADA only specifies that municipalities take “reasonable accomodations” to improve accessibility. Chamber of Commerce Coordinator Karen Wintrow stated that many disabled persons are able to open the Train Station doors.

Council President Judith Hempfling stated that Council needs to keep paying attention to issues of accessibility, including how to help downtown businesses, many of which are located in old buildings, to enhance their accessibility in a financially feasible way. Swanson previously stated that Xenia Avenue sidewalks would be repaired this spring.

• Council agreed to go ahead with its Jan. 15 special meeting on the proposed Meigs County coal plant, as promoted by AMP-Ohio. The meeting was intended as a presentation of different points of view regarding the coal plant. However, AMP-Ohio recently stated it cannot attend the meeting, according to Hempfling. Since the time has already been set, Council agreed to go ahead with the meeting.

• Council unanimously passed emergency ordinances for the 2008 temporary budget, supplemental appropriations and fund transfers.

• Council unanimously passed resolutions for day-to-day expenditures and legislative issues.

Contact: dchiddister@ysnews.com