Watertown Charter Township
Minutes of Board of Trustees Special Budget Meeting
October 7, 2008
6:00 P.M.
Call to order: The meeting was called to order at 6:09 P.M.
Board Members Present: Supervisor Adams, Clerk Husby, Treasurer Thelen, and Trustees Mitchell, Maahs, and Weitzel. Absent: Trustee Zay Staff present: Tubbs
Public Comment: none
New Business:
1. Budget 2009 work session. Tubbs presented an overview. Our estimated year end revenue for 2008 is $1.9 million. Our estimated revenue for 2009 is $2.0 million which is an increase of $100,000.00. That is the least increase in revenues in the last ten years. Our overall expenditures for 2008 have gone down to $2,086,000.00. Expenditures in the 2009 Budget are just under $2 million. We’ve cut our spending by $100,000.00 from 2008 in order to keep in line with the trends. The millage rate will be 4.5277 which is the same as last year.
-Thelen would like the penalty and interest for delinquent taxes to appear in the budget. She would estimate around $10,000.00 or maybe $5,000.00. Board members felt that leaving it at zero would make any money that comes in as a bonus and you can’t actually count on it. Tubbs doesn’t like to budget on numbers that are not known. It was decided to leave it at zero for 101445.
-Thelen asked where the number came from for 101574-State Revenue Sharing. Tubbs explained that it came from the State website.
-Husby asked about 101721 and the increase. We haven’t resolved the ordinance vs. the practice. Tubbs is drafting language to bring the ordinance in line with the practice.
-Husby pointed out that there is no Medicare or pension in the budget for 171716 and 171718. It will be corrected.
-Husby explained that the county will no longer provide election supplies. She would like 191801.004 to have $750.00.
-Weitzel asked about the increase in the assessor contract. Tubbs explained that it is in the contract to get an increase equal to the consumer price index.
-Legal expenses -201801.003-Tubbs will check the expenses.
-215703.001-Deputy stipend. Weitzel asked about the suggested increase. Tubbs explained that she was recommending for an out of house deputy.
-Husby explained that the pension, line item 215718, does not go into effect for twelve months. It would only be one month for the budget year of 2009-$409.00.
-Husby pointed out that line item 215958 had previously been agreed to be $100.00. Husby had $650.00 in it in order to get a card file for the voting registration files. The money could be put in election supplies. Tubbs explained that she put $1000.00 in the budget to accommodate a new officer and the needs of that person. Thelen wondered why an office supplies line item wasn’t in the clerk’s activity. It was decided to make a line item for office supplies in the clerk activity and budget $900.00 and “other” will be $100.00. Husby also questioned 215957.
-Treasurer postage was discussed. It was decided to increase 253728 to $4500.00.
-The explanation for 253860 will be banking and meetings.
Break 7:07 P.M.-7:10 P.M.
-Weitzel asked about 260703 and the 6% increase. It shows a change in duties. Tubbs says that there has been a change in duties per the new description of duties to be reviewed by the Policy & Personnel Committee. Weitzel says that it is not automatic.
-Weitzel also asked about 260705. Tubbs explained that it includes her network duties.
He asked about the Granger Landfill Trust and her stipend. Tubbs also explained that she often works past 5 o’clock.
-Husby asked about the treasurer’s assistant salary and the planning & zoning assistant salary. Weitzel explained that it is a combined position. For the budget, the salaries will be split 50/50.
-260721-more information at next meeting.
-260955-available for any group the Board wants to support (CCEA?)-list options
-260956-check
-260957-breakdown of costs-all staff-more detailed information
-265775-Thelen commented that she would like to see toilet paper and paper towels
taken out of this category “cleaning supplies and tools” –maybe it could be named “supplies and tools.”
-265931-more information
-265975-$18,000.00 new mower
Tubbs is changing the numbers to her numbers unless the Board requests something different.
-276729-cemetery program needs to be replaced
-276707.003-discussion-not changing the salary. The sexton doesn’t have to be the maintenance person
-345804-$310,965.00-draft budget
Will start with page 22 on October 22 at 6:00 P.M.
Adjournment- The meeting was adjourned at 8:05 P.M.
Date approved: _____________________________
Deb Adams, Supervisor
______________________________
Jean Husby, Clerk