By Michael Howell
The Hamilton City Council approved a final budget for FY 2016 that projects about $10 million in total expenses with about $9 million in revenues. Projected expenses are roughly split into thirds with $3,300,000 going to personnel, $3,550,000 in operational costs and about $3,350,000 in capital expenditures. About 24% of the projected revenue is from property taxes with another 26% coming from federal, state and local government sources. Close to 31% of the revenues comes from user fees for services and about 11% comes from inter-fund transfers from the water and sewer funds. The remainder comes from various other sources.
The initial resolution to adopt the budget was approved on a 4 to 1 vote with Councilor Joe Petrusaitis voting against it.
Petrusaits said he objected primarily to approving a budget with some crucial, but unknown, expenses. He said the employee insurance plan was not finalized nor was there a contract with employees.
“I don’t think we have enough money budgeted for that,” he said.
He also objected to taking a lot of equipment needed by some departments out of the budget to balance the general fund. He said the Fire Department’s Capital Improvement Fund should be kept in the savings for future equipment replacement and not to balance the general fund.
Petrusaitis said he would also like to see the water and sewer base rates and user fees separated out in the budget on both the revenue and expense sides.
His final complaint was budgeting for a building in another area of the city when it wasn’t needed.
Despite his vote against adopting the budget, Petrusaitis joined in a unanimous vote to approve the levying of the taxes.
“I will vote to levy the taxes of the City of Hamilton,” he said. “It would be irresponsible not to.”
The Council also approved a resolution redefining the area included within the Hamilton Street Maintenance District and a 20 mill assessment. A special assessment was also approved for Lighting Districts 10, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16.
The Council unanimously approved the Mayor’s reappointment of Karen Mahar as City Attorney for another two-year term.