The Village Board worked diligently on finalizing a proposed 2019 budget. Initially, Village staff put together a budget based on priorities messaged by officials and departments. This initial proposed budget started the process with a 6.7% increase to the levy.
Through a number of budget meetings, the Village Board has been able to make a number of reductions. The reductions are based on the Village Board determining certain services to be reduced or no longer needed in the community. The reductions also revisited certain internal policies such as equipment/vehicle replacement, hiring of personnel, and maintenance practices.
As a result of the reductions, the updated proposed 2019 budget contains a 0.6% levy increase, pending final health insurance numbers. Some of the major changes to the budget include:
- $160,000 - Deferred replacement of DPW heavy equipment
- $104,000 - On-street parking permit revenues and expenses transferred from the Parking Utility to the General Fund, which resulted in a significant net savings
- $56,350 - Reduced code enforcement services from 40 hours to 20 hours per week
- $44,000 - Deferred upgrading document management software until 2021
- $40,000 - Reduced allocation in personnel to acknowledge future vacancies and delayed hiring for vacant staff positions
- $40,000 - Reduce Wilson Dr. furniture (benches, trash bins, etc.) from $60,000 to $20,000
- Some other changes include not purchasing seasonal snowflake decorations in the business district, reducing the amount of summer seasonal help from 12 to 8 positions, no longer printing and mailing the recycling calendars, and a $2 increase to Saturday compactor hours to compensate the cost for DPW staff to be present.
To access the full list of reductions and charges as well as access the list of items considered by the Village Board, click here. The Village Board will hold a public hearing on the 2019 budget on Monday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m. at Village Hall for the public to ask questions and provide their opinions towards to the budget. To review the entire 2019 proposed budget, click here.