12-08-2014 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, December 8, 2014 6:30 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 3 of 26 (5. 2015 BUDGET HEARING, Continued) The next big increase is $73,000 in building and zoning, which had to do with the addition of a new employee in that department. Olson stated the City Council determined that the City had a need for a Community Development Director, which was then added to the Building and Zoning Department. The next increase is for street maintenance of 19 percent and is to allow the City to start doing preventative maintenance on the roads to keep them in good shape. The other big increase is in the Parks Department, which is being increased by $39,879 to allow for additional maintenance to be performed. Olson stated the City pays for these expenditures primarily through property taxes, which is increasing by $70,000 or 1.8 percent. However, the City’s budget is going up $246,000. Olson stated 28 percent of the revenue increase is due to the increase in property taxes. The biggest increase in revenue is being projected for building permits, which are estimated to go up $81,500. Olson stated as the housing market dropped, the City cut back on what it budgeted for permits, and with the increase in building activity, the City felt confident increasing the amount being budgeted. Another anticipated increase in revenue is general service charges, which is projected at $35,800 or an 11 percent increase, and are pass-through charges. Total anticipated public safety charges are increasing by $66,000, which encompasses the contract services the Orono Police Department provides to nearby cities. The revenue from those contracts is increasing by 3 percent even though the police budget did not increase by three percent. Olson noted the City Council and Staff has been working on the 2015 budget since June and that tonight is another chance for the public to speak on the budget. Mayor McMillan opened the public hearing at 6:55 p.m. There were no public comments. Mayor McMillan closed the public hearing at 6:55 p.m. Levang noted the City has been working on the budget for the past six months and that the final budget has been honed down to the essential areas that are in need of attention. Levang stated she feels very comfortable with the budget. McMillan noted the 2015 CIP should include the reclaim of Stubbs Bay and the eastern section of Watertown Road, with the western section of Watertown Road being planned for improvements in 2016. McMillan stated the City Council can also amend that later. Engineer & Public Works Director Adam Edwards stated the spreadsheets included in the CIP were updated a couple of weeks ago and that he has included Stubbs Bay Road, Watertown Road - over two years, and Baldur Park. McMillan stated the Council can also work on that next year as they begin to discuss road projects. Printup asked if the recycling is a year-by-year contract.