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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001-10-03 - TB 1 !E ■ 1 IM It t 9 r� � � 1 I I '� 1 f� A 1 1 4 , ll i slut H 1 4 lr J, . r . .. X6' 1 � ' i , r I . , � � � a i l , . , f ,.. '.��� Pin' ' J $ 4 V Y SPECIAL TOWN BOARD MEETING BUDGET PRESENTATION/WORKSHOP OCTOBER 3,2001 PRESENT: Supervisor Doug Austic; Councilpeople Carolyn Duddleston, Sue Poelvoorde, Andrew Hillman and Robert Weatherby; Town Clerk Marsha L. Georgia Proof of Notice having been furnished Supervisor Austic opened the meeting at 7: 10 PM. Marsha L. Georgia, Town Clerk presented the Tentative 2002 Budget to the Supervisor and the Board Members (Tentative Budget on file in the office of the Town Clerk in the official Budget Book of the Town of Ulysses) . Supervisor Austic stated that the tentative budget reflects what was presented to him from the different departments. The Library did not ask for any additional funds over 2001 , the Village, after the meeting with the Fire Department, reduced their request for Fire Protection to $ 149,000 instead of the original $ 176, 000 . Ms. Poelvoorde stated that she felt one thing that was misleading, from the Fire Department, that they did not start the EMT service until August so they had all that reserve money that they were going to use. Mr. Austic stated that in the Towns budget it is not a true picture of the expense for 2002 because of the $23 ,000 money left from 2001 . Mrs. Duddleston asked if the Board felt if the Fire Department would seriously work on becoming a private entity and billing? She felt that that is what needs to be done. Ms. Poelvoorde stated that the Town would need to keep after them to do this. Mr. Austic feels that the Town does not have enough representation with the Fire Department budget process. Mrs. Duddleston stated that it is not because the Town does not try to . Mr. Austic feels that they need to reorganize the whole thing and separate it out from the Village, have a Board of Directors elected by the people. It certainly is getting to be a large operation. The Town does not even get monthly reports nor do they ever get budget reports. Back to the 2002 budget — the Fire is the largest increase. Mr. Austic stated that the cost-of-living increase for the employees is 3%. Mrs. Georgia explained her request for the Deputy Clerk. She has increased the hourly rate to $ 12. 00 per hour after speaking with Ms. Poelvoorde and checking with the Village office and Farrell' s Insurance and sees that that hourly rate is more in line with what is out there. Also she has figured the hours to increase with the Water District becoming a factor in the Clerk's office. She has increased the hours to reflect an additional day, but explained they would not necessarily be used until the work demands it. Included in her budget also is the cost of the software for the water billing, $3500, plus $65 ph for training. The Board asked if the administration of the Water District would be a district expense? Mr. Austic commented that he would be working with the programmer of his accounting package to get advisement on this type of thing. Mr. Weatherby asked about the Town Board contractual expense. Mr. Austic stated that was being increased because that is where the legal advertising expense gets taken and that is running a little higher largely due to the hearings on the water district. Without the Fire Protection included the 2002 budget reflects about a $02 per thousand increase over 2001 , which is roughly about 1 %. Revenues are down slightly although the revenue for highway contractual mowing and plowing for the County is up due to the Highway Superintendent renegotiating a new contract . Mr. Austic is in receipt of a letter from the State Comptrollers office and they have changed the policy on Fund Balances. They are saying now that is up to the Towns as to how much fund balances they would like to keep. He went on to state that the B Fund Balances are very high and feels that some of that should be used. The Board agreed to 3 \ 3 Special Town Board 2 Budget Presentation/Workshop 10-3 -01 use $ 14,000 of that fund balance. The Comptroller states that the Towns can keep what they want but Mr. Austic feels that the Town should not keep anything over 25 % of the budget for a fund balance. The Board continued on with the discussion and concern with the Fire Protection Budget. The fire end of the budget did not change much; the increase is in the EMT budget, making the large increase. Mrs. Duddleston stated that she feel, ; that the Fire Department got the message that it is time to start billing for the ambulance service. The Fire Department stated that they probably would not be able to run the service on billings 1 entirely and the Town understands that and would be willing to help pay for the difference. Mrs. Duddleston stated that to her it sounds like the department does not have a handle on the expenses at all. The Town asked to have the EMT and Fire be separate contracts but the Fire Department would not allow that. It would be all or nothing. The Board discussed getting other Township ' s fire rates and comparing. Mr. Weatherby asked if the Village, Board has any problems with the Fire budget? It seems that they do not and that could be because of members of the Village Board being also with the Fire Department. 1 That is why the Town Board feels that it could be run more effectively with an elected Board of Directors. Also Mr. Austic pointed out that in the Fire Budget the Fire Chief is being paid, and that is not legal; this matter should be pointed out to the Village. ' If it is a volunteer position, it is not to be a paid position. The Board continued discussion on how to approach this situation. Ms. Poelvoorde stated that the Town Board does need to get a formal contract with the Fire Department stating what services the Town is receiving.