MINUTES OF A BUDGET HEARING
GURNEE VILLAGE HALL
APRIL 20, 1996
Mayor Welton called the hearing to order at 8:05 a.m. and announced
that the purpose of this hearing is to review the General Fund's
departmental budgets and the Utility Fund's Operating Budget.
Roll Call, Present: Verna Rocheleau, Tracie Bullock, David O'Brien, Mark Ratfelders, Bob Amaden.
Absent: Jerry Smith.
The Village Administrator provided an overview of the proposed
budget and reported that it is up 7.6% over last year's approved
budget and that does not include a cost-of-living adjustment to
the wage scale. The proposed operating budget is at $13,165,840.00
and a 3% cost-of-living adjustment brings the budget to $13,362,340.00.
The budgeted revenues for Fiscal Year 1996/97 are $13,563,700.00,
which would provide a surplus of $201,360.00.
The Village Administrator then reviewed the status of the General
Fund at the end of the current Fiscal Year. Fiscal Year 1995/96
will have revenues of approximately $13,450,000.00 and expenditures
of about $11,700,000.00. Of this $1,750,000.00 surplus, $1,300,000.00
is being recommended for transfer to the Capital Improvement Fund
and $450,000.00 to be applied to the General Fund's Reserve.
This will bring the General Fund's Reserve to $4,250,000.00 as
of May 1, 1996. That would create a reserve of approximately
32% of the General Fund's operating budget. It was pointed out
that the bond rating agencies like to see a reserve of at least
30% to secure a Triple A rating.
The Village Administrator then reviewed the projected revenues
for FY 96/97. He reported that revenues are up only $156,000.00
above FY 95/96's estimated actual revenues. The major revenue
increases/decreases projected against FY 95/96 actuals lay out
as follows:
Increase Percent
Line Item <Decrease> Plus
or Minus
Sales tax +$240,000.00 + 3.6%
Property tax + 63,000.00 + 7.9%
Hotel tax + 10,000.00 + 1.9%
Income tax + 75,000.00 + 8.1%
Court fines + 10,000.00 + 4.7%
Building permits < 150,000.00> - 16.6%
Fire district contract < 65,000.00> - 7.6%
Recycling revenue < 16,000.00> 100%
Total Net Increase +$167,000.00
The proposed operating budgets begin with a review of the Administration
budget, which was up .9% from last year's approved budget. It
includes 1/4 of the salary and benefit costs for a new full-time
position entitled Information Systems Technician. The budget
also included a $30,000.00 carryover to complete the Interim Census
and $20,000.00 to have an outside consultant review our pay plan.
Capital expenditure requests total $30,750.00, of which $19,250.00
relates to computer hardware and software expenditures. There
is also $2,500.00 in the budget to cover 1/3 of the cost of a
Voice Mail System for Village Hall.
Mayor Welton stated his desire to add another position to the
Administration budget that would assist in communicating with
the public. He envisions this position also helping with community
development activities. The Village Administrator was instructed
to research a job description and salary range for this position.
The budget for Building and Grounds is down .7% from last year's
approved budget. This budget covers the maintenance of the Village
Hall property and Mother Rudd.
Jon Wildenberg reviewed the budget for Building and Zoning and
explained that it is up .7% from last year's approved budget.
There are no new full-time employees proposed and it includes
three part-time positions to assist with the busy summer months.
Two of the part-time positions are dedicated to building inspection
activity and the third position will assist with zoning inspections
and planning related activities. The capital expenditures total
$56,400.00 and includes two vehicles at $22,000.00 each; $2,500.00
for the Village Hall Voice Mail System; $6,400.00 on computer
hardware and software; $1,800.00 in office furniture; and $1,000.00
in office equipment.
The Engineering budget is up 6.4% from last year's approved budget.
It includes 1/4 of the cost of the Information Systems Technician
position and no additional full-time positions. Todd Gordon explained
that the budget does include $32,000.00 in part-time salaries
due to two college intern positions and a GIS Technician being
switched from the Utility Operating Budget. This year they will
be working on storm sewer and street light data entry. Capital
expenditure requests total $12,700.00, of which $7,800.00 relates
to data processing needs and $2,500.00 towards the Village Hall
Voice Mail System.
Jim Repp presented the Public Works budget, which is up 5.3% from
last year's approved budget. He is not proposing any new employees
and his capital requests total $143,050.00. Included in the capital
requests are: (1) a 4 yard dump truck with plow and spreader
@ $48,000.00; (2) a 3/4 ton pick-up with a plow @ $22,000.00;
(3) three plow wings for improved snow removal @ $33,000.00; (4)
a skid steer loader @ $29,000.00; and (5) miscellaneous capital
items totaling $11,050.00.
The Vehicle Maintenance budget is up 15.8% from last year's approved
budget, but that only amounts to a $10,320.00 increase. There
is no new personnel proposed and the capital requests total $4,700.00.
Jim Repp then presented the Utility Operating Budget, which is
up 6.9% over last year's approved budget. The budget includes
one additional employee and $121,400.00 in capital expenditure
requests. The projected operating revenues exceed proposed expenditures
by $611,840.00.
Trustee Bullock requested that the meter replacement schedule
be reviewed in order to determine the cost effectiveness of moving
up the completion date.
Chris Velkover provided a presentation on the Village's data processing
system and the proposed expenditure requests for Fiscal Year 1996/97.
This included a review of the Financial Data Processing System,
the Inter/Intra Networking Project and the GIS Mapping System.
Chief Jones presented the Police Department budget, which is up
8.8% from last year's approved budget. It includes five additional
full-time positions. The manpower increases include: an additional
sergeant position for the midnight watch; an officer to replace
the High School Liaison Officer on shift; an additional officer
at Gurnee Mills; and an officer to serve on the multi-jurisdictional
task force on repeat violent offenders in Lake County. Chief
Jones is also requesting an additional secretary to address the
administrative demands of the department. The proposed budget
would take us to 49 sworn officers and 4 CSO's. The capital requests
in this budget total $320,920.00, of which $135,390.00 relates
to new vehicles. We have already ordered five new squads under
the state contract at a cost of $97,970.00. He is also proposing
one additional squad car @ $32,720.00 (complete package) and a
replacement vehicle for our detectives @ $19,350.00. The capital
requests also include: $23,800.00 in computer hardware; $9,900.00
in computer software; $30,050.00 in radio equipment; $31,175.00
in firearms; $8,250.00 in building maintenance work; $17,875.00
in office equipment; and $47,600.00 in various items of machinery
and equipment.
The Communications budget is up 6.6% from last year's approved
budget. There is no new personnel being recommended and capital
requests total $2,500.00.
Chief McGrath presented the Fire Department budget, which is up
11.1% over last year's approved budget. This budget includes
six additional full-time civil service firefighter/paramedic positions.
Three of these positions address providing 24 hour ambulance
coverage out of Station #2. The other three positions relate
to addressing the overtime required to cover the shifts for vacation
leave, holidays and sick days.
This budget contains $203,900.00 in capital expenditure requests,
of which $122,000.00 relates to vehicles. That includes the second
payment on the new pump squad and a replacement vehicle for daily
operations. Capital requests also include: $7,350.00 in computer
hardware; $2,800.00 in computer software; $8,200.00 in radio equipment;
$25,075.00 in machinery and equipment; $2,600.00 in building improvements;
$1,000.00 in fire hose; $26,000.00 in opticom equipment; and $8,700.00
in miscellaneous other capital items.
Amaden moved, seconded by O'Brien, to adjourn the budget hearing
at 4:40 p.m.
All Aye. Motion Carried.
James T. Hayner
Village Administrator