HomeMy WebLinkAboutMeeting Notes 6-24-2015
1
BUDGET COMMITTEE
Meeting Notes - June 24, 2015
Committee present: Eric Levine - Chairman, Herb Engman, Pat Leary
Staff present: Mike Solvig, Judy Drake, Jim Weber
Others present: Bill Goodman
Meeting was called to order at: 12:03 p.m.
AGENDA ITEMS:
• Review and approve meeting notes from May 27, 2015.
Committee members reviewed and approved the revised meeting notes from May 27, 2015.
• Review Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan.
The Committee reviewed an updated CIP schedule received from Public Works. Capital projects
scheduled for 2016 include the following:
- WATER TANKS - The Trumansburg Road Water Tank Replacement project has been moved up
from 2017 to 2016 to take advantage of lower interest rates, and the estimated cost of the
project lowered from $1,200,000 to $900,000. Together with the Pine Tree Road Water Tank
Replacement project, estimated at $600,000, the total estimated expenditures for 2016 are
$1,500,000. Mr. Weber commented that these are the last two water tanks that need
replacement for the next 10 to 15 years. These projects will be financed by issuing new long-
term debt.
- WATER MAINS - Total cost for Water Main improvements for Fiscal Year 2016 is estimated at
$1,300,000. Water main replacement projects currently scheduled include Sapsucker Woods
Road - $425,000; Christopher Circle - $325,000; and Cliff Street - $550,000. These projects
will also be financed by issuing new long-term debt.
- SEWER AND MANHOLE REHABILITATION - These on-going maintenance projects will reduce water
infiltration into aging sewer lines and manholes. The amount of $250,000 will be budgeted for
sewer rehabilitation and $50,000 for manhole rehabilitation, which will be financed from
current year revenues/fund balance.
- STORM DRAINAGE - Added $250,000 to line the interior of the culvert pipe under the Elm Street
Extension at Coy Glen Creek. This General Fund project will be financed from current year
revenues/fund balance. Mr. Weber informed the Committee that as there remains $150,000
in the 2015 budget for this work, Public Works may still re-bid this project in 2015.
- ROAD IMPROVEMENTS - Upper Sand Bank Road and Town Line Road are scheduled for 2016 at a
total estimated cost of $800,000. The Town still has in excess of $300,000 from 2014 bond
proceeds that can be used for Sand Bank Road. The remaining $500,000 will be financed by
issuing new long-term debt.
- TOWN FACILITIES - The upgrades to the Fuel Dispensing System at the Public Works facility
scheduled for 2016 has been postponed to 2017. Project year was “swapped” with the
Trumansburg Road Water Tank Replacement project.
2
- PARKS & TRAILS - Projects for 2016 include the Hungerford Heights Playground Replacement -
$50,000; South Hill Trail Culvert Repairs - $25,000; and the East Ithaca Recreation Way Culvert
Repairs - $25,000. Total expenditures for 2016 are estimated at $100,000. Budgeted in the
General Fund, these projects will also be financed with current year revenue/fund balance.
Total estimated costs for the CIP for Fiscal Years 2016 - 2020 are presented on the schedule shown
below:
INFRASTRUCTURE 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
WATER INFRASTRUCTURE 2,800,000$ 1,300,000$ 1,350,000$ 950,000$ 750,000$
SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE 800,000 500,000 500,000 500,000 500,000
STORMWATER DRAINAGE 250,000 - - 250,000 250,000
ROAD IMPROVEMENTS 800,000 800,000 800,000 800,000 1,500,000
TOWN FACILITIES - 500,000 - 350,000 300,000
PARKS & TRAILS 100,000 100,000 140,000 100,000 -
TOTAL ANNUAL COST 4,750,000$ 3,200,000$ 2,790,000$ 2,950,000$ 3,300,000$
FUNDING SOURCE:
- Current Year Revenue 1,450,000$ 600,000$ 640,000$ 1,050,000$ 750,000$
- Grant Funding - - - - -
- New Long-Term Debt 3,300,000 2,600,000 2,150,000 1,900,000 2,550,000
TOTAL FUNDING 4,750,000$ 3,200,000$ 2,790,000$ 2,950,000$ 3,300,000$
Of the $16,990,000 total estimated project costs, $4,490,000 would be financed with current year
revenues/fund balance, and the remaining $12,500,000 by the issuance of new long-term debt.
• Discuss 2016 Ithaca Town Budget process.
Mr. Solvig informed the Committee that budget worksheets will be distributed to department
heads in early July, to be returned by July 31. A first draft of the Preliminary 2016 Ithaca Town
Budget will be reviewed by the Budget Committee at the August meeting. The first Town Board
Budget Meeting is scheduled for Thursday, October 1.
The Committee will review the Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan with the Town Board at the
July Study Session.
• Discuss 2015 Bond Issue.
There was no additional discussion on this topic at this meeting.
• Property Tax Cap and Property Tax Freeze Programs.
There was no additional discussion on this topic at this meeting.
This item will remain on the Committee’s monthly agenda and will be discussed on an on-going
basis as further information becomes available.
• Other Items.
- Status of 2015 Sales Tax Collections - First Quarter: Mr. Solvig reported that he had again
hoped to present the Committee with the sales tax collections report for the 1st Quarter of
2015, but the Town has not yet received the March, April and May collections from the
County. Sales tax collections for the first two months of 2015 were very good, with January
and February total collections at 8.3% over collections for the same period in 2014. The 1st
Quarter report will hopefully be presented at the July meeting.
3
- Purchase of New Fire Pumper Truck by Cayuga Heights Fire Department: Mr. Engman
reported that Cayuga Heights is in the process of purchasing a new Fire Pumper to replace a
2001 Fire Pumper that has reached the end of its useful life. Cayuga Heights has opened bids
for this apparatus, and the cost of this new equipment, after trade-in and other discounts, is
$467,193. In accordance with the terms of our fire protection contract, Cayuga Heights is
requesting a contributory payment by the Town in the amount of $174,076. A resolution to
authorize this payment will be presented to the Town Board on July 13.
- Post Office Lease: Mr. Solvig reported that our lease with the Post Office will expire on June
29, 2019. While this still seems a long way in the future, he thought it might be better to
begin the renewal process earlier as opposed to later, considering how long it can take to get
anything accomplished with the USPS. Mr. Engman stated he will ask for volunteers at the
next Board Meeting to form an Ad Hoc Committee.
- Public Works Bus Tour: Mr. Weber informed the Committee that this year’s tour of capital
project sites has been scheduled for July 24 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Tour will leave from
the Public Works facility.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:09 p.m.
Next Meeting: Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 12:00 pm, Town Hall - Aurora Room