October 6, 2008 Town Board Meeting Minutes

Present:
Richard Knox - Town Supervisor
Carol Coller - Councilwoman
Evah Foster - Councilwoman
Courtney Jeanette - Councilwoman
David Whiteford - Councilman
Tess Eells - Town Clerk
Larry White - Highway Superintendent

Guests:
Tim Jeanette

The meeting was called to order at 7:03pm by Supervisor Knox.

The Town Clerk needs it in the minutes that she handed out copies of the Local Law that will have a Public Hearing on October 15th to the board members to review long enough in advance prior to the Public Hearing.

TENTATIVE BUDGET REVIEW

Tax Levy $192,286 with County Roads $428,550

Fire department estimates have not been changed in budget yet.

Town tax rate - at this time a $50,000 home outside of the lighting district would pay ($68.00) more than last year. Total tax levy is 12% increase over last year due to cost of health insurance, heating oil, fuel for trucks, salt prices, increase in cost of parts and blades, increase in payroll. The town also gave up the county roads so that will affect the budget.

General Fund Appropriations

Legislature Board - 3.5% raise from $6,000 to $6,200

Municipal Court - asked for $9,500 for Justice and $9.50 per hour for court clerk - Board decided 3.5% raise for justice and court clerk.

Supervisor - 3.5% raise for himself and the book keeper.

Auditor - went from $6,000 to $6,200

Budget Director - 3.5% raise

Assessment - 3.5% raise and added $1,000 to the contractual expense.

Clerk - 3.5% raise she asked for $1,200 for new computer in Equipment. Contractual stayed the same.

Law - stayed the same.

Operation of Plant - raised the contractual $7,000.

Central Communications - stayed the same $6,500

Central printing and mailing - stayed the same $2,500

Public safety:

• Traffic Control - stayed the same $500
• Control of Dogs - 3.5% raise from $2,054 to $ 2,126 lowered contractual $200
• Safety Inspection - asked for $7,500 from $6,695 will get a 3.5 % raise.
• Other public safety - stayed the same $1,500

Registrar of Vital Statistics - 3.5% raise from $230 to $240

Medical Health - stayed the same $600 when the clinic comes to Russell the board will let the new Physician do this.

Highway Administration - 3.5% raise

Garage & Pit - Personal Services up $500 form $4,000 to $4,500 Contractual up from $32,000 to $35,000.

Programs for the aging - from $1,100 up to $1,200

Youth Program - from $8,000 to $8,700

Historian - from $450 up to $500

Cemeteries - Contractual up from $2,000 to $ 2,300

Employee Benefits:

• Unemployment Insurance - up from $3,000 to $5,000
• Hospital & Medical Insurance - up from $31,000 to $34,000

Transfer of Other Funds - Russell Public Library from $15,000 up to $15,500

Salaries of elected Officials will be:

• Supervisor - $7,872
• Clerk/Tax Collector - $20,263
• Highway Superintendent - $38,027
• Municipal Judge - $8,766
• Board Members (Each) - $1,439
• Committee Chair (Each) - $0
• Committee Member (Each) - $0

General Fund Revenues

Local Sources - Property Tax $192,286

Other Tax Items - Distribution by County - sales tax from $105,000 up to $110,000

Department income - Surcharge from $1,000 up to $1,200

Use of Money and property - Interest & Earnings down from $8,260 to $6,000

Licenses and Permits - Building Permits down from $400 to $300

State Aid:

• Per Capita up from $20,000 to $21,000
• Mortgage Tax up from $12,000 to $13,000

Total Revenues with Property Tax: $372,416

Highway Appropriations:

• General Repairs - Personal Service was $82,941 up to $98,372; Contractual was $52,530 up to $58,000
• Improvements - was $28,322 up to $38,133
• Bridges - was $2,024 up to $2,115 a 3.55 raise
• Machinery - was $28,321 up to $42,364

Miscellaneous:

• Brush & Weeds - Personal Services up from $6,070 to $10,570
• Snow Removal Town - Personal Services up from $56,643 to $64,526

Services Other Govt’s - Done away with County Snow Removal.

Employee Benefits:

• State Retirement up from $25,000 to $27,000
• Social Security up from $22,500 to $23,500
• Hospital & Medical Insurance up from $96,503 to $111,000

Debt Service Principal - No truck payments at this time

Highway Revenues - Misc. - up from $3,000 to $4,500 for North Woods Road Maintenance

Estimated revenues - $297,077

Discussion about sand and salt usage was done.

RESOLUTION # 69 Salt percentage usage for town roads

A motion was made by Supervisor Knox and seconded by Councilwoman Foster to authorize the Highway Superintendent to use a 5% salt mixture on town roads instead of 10% mixture unless the weather incurs the 10% mixture to be used to keep the town roads safe.

Jeanette - yes
Foster - yes
Knox - yes
Whiteford - yes
Coller - yes

Motion carried.

Tim Jeanette presented the DeGrasse fire Departments Budget sheet to the town board to review. They will also ask the Town of Clare for a raise to help with costs. There total income for the year was $34,000 they would like to get around $45,000. The board will review the estimate and decide at the next meeting.

No estimate budget was given from the Russell fire Department yet.

Meeting adjourned at 8:45pm all were in favor.