BonnerSprings.com

At Monday night's Edwardsville City Council meeting, council members approved the maximum amount of the 2011 budget.

The council approved, 5-0, to set the maximum amount of the 2011 budget at $5,474,418, which is equal to a two-mill increase to the levy. Council members set one mill going to the general fund and one mill going to the debt service fund.

One mill equals $1 in taxes for every $1,000 in assessed valuation.

Council member will now continue discussion about how exactly that $5,474,418 should be spent, but the mill levy will not be changed.

Council members agreed to the mill increase because the average single family home valuation went down 4.65 percent, meaning that a two mill increase would keep their city taxes flat and would not cause homeowners taxes to go up. This does not include any mill increases approved by the county.

The budget proposed by City Administrator Michael Webb included:

• One mill increase for the general fund and one mill increase for the debt service fund

• No new funding of the cemetery fund, who will have to use cash reserves for another year to operate

• No pay increases for city staff and firefighters. Uniform police will receive the raise already determined by their union contract.

• Hiring of assistant police chief in lieu of filling vacant fire chief position

• Hiring two firefighter/paramedic positions, which will be covered 85 percent by a grant

• Fund retirement of police sergeant

• Go from part time clerk to full time clerk in municipal court

• Overall benefits increase for employees of 14.3 percent, which is mostly as a result of the two new grant-funded firefighters

• Replacement of two police patrol vehicles

• Acquisition of equipment for police and fire departments (i.e. radios)

• Reduction of cash reserves in general, debt, street and sewer funds.

The specific of these proposed items will be discussed at a yet to be determined work session. Council members continued to express their concern about spending down the general fund cash reserve to hire an assistant police chief.

To read more about the 2011 budget, see the Aug. 12 edition of the Chieftain.

Comments