City of Gibson City Council met July 17
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
Meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Dickey.
Roll Call:
Ward #1 Susie Tongate: P Sarah Sarantakos: P
Ward #2 Randy Wyant: P Ray Hankes : A
Ward #3 Scott Davis: P Doug Parsons: P
Ward #4 Denis Fisher: P Laura Miller: P
Visitors: Admin Scott Shull, Chief Rosendahl, Supts. Martin & Duncan, Jean Noellsch-Ford County Chronicle.
New Business: Mayor Dickey stated the purpose of this special council meeting is to review the proposed 2024 budget for fiscal year 2023-2024. He turned the meeting over to Finance Chairman Scott Davis to present the budget in detail.
Alderman Sarantakos asked if she could make a statement before the review began, and Davis gave her the floor. Alderman Sarantakos stated that she had specifically asked to be on the Finance Committee when appointments were made because she worked at city hall for many years and has a clear understanding of how the budgeting for the city works. She asked when the meetings were held to prepare this budget and asked why the Committee is not included. She stated further that receiving the draft the weekend before this meeting does not give adequate time for a thorough review. Alderman Sarantakos stated that if the Finance Committee is not going to meet and have any input the committee does not need to exist. Alderman Parsons agreed. Alderman Davis simply stated that the current process has been in place for 8 years and has not appeared to be a problem. At that point he took the floor and proceeded with the budget review.
Alderman Davis began by explaining that the budget is prepared as a guideline for expenditures, and within each department there are specific line items listed. After the numbers are reviewed and adjusted, if necessary, the city attorney will prepare our Appropriations Ordinance allocating 10% higher in each line item as a safety net. Major items listed such as a proposed 35% rate increase in water and sewer billing or vehicle purchases are always discussed and must be voted on by full council.
Mayor Dickey reminded council that the Water and Sewer budgets are city utilities and must generate income to pay the expenses, tax dollars are not used in these 2 departments.
The first page of the budget is an overview and shows total revenue anticipated at $19,069,559, funds available are $5,797,465, and expenses anticipated total $21,829,749.00 This leaves a difference of $3,037,275.
Original Total Bond Funds of $7.5 million dollars - $2,265,249 is available to be used towards major improvements and expenditures in Water, Sewer, and Streets & Alleys budgets.
City Clerk Jan Hall asked if she could make a statement about the proposed swimming pool project because she serves as a volunteer on that committee. Her point: the Committee was formed in 2019, the city has spent over $165K in engineering design fees, and we have not yet made a final recommendation to the council on whether to recommend the project be bid out. Hall’s personal opinion is that the remaining $5.2 million in bond funds be moved into the new pool project line item in case the council decides to move forward to bid. Then the city will have a dollar amount to save towards. Council agreed to this change.
With no further changes noted, Alderman Davis made a motion to approve the budget as presented with noted adjustments, 2nd made my Alderman Miller, motion carried 7/0.
Motion to Adjourn made by Alderman Davis, 2nd by Alderman Sarantakos, meeting adjourned @ 7:17 p.m.
*Note: Water/Sewer Committee meeting to be held Thursday July 20th at 5:30 p.m., purpose is to discuss a 35% increase in water and sewer rates and possible change to monthly billing.
Streets / Alleys Committee meeting to be held Thursday July 20th at 6:00 p.m., purpose is to discuss changing N. Lott Blvd from 17th to 15th Streets a one-way south; and to discuss a change in the age requirement on Golf Cart Permits for street use.
https://gibsoncityillinois.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/July-17-2023-Minutes-.pdf
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