The Church Point town council’s packed chamber erupted with applause when the 2019-2020 budget was approved last week, a budget that includes a 6% raise for all of the town’s employees.
Mayor Ryan “Spanky” Meche said, “The reason why I went up to six percent is because — I wanted more than that — but that’s what I settled on. Two years were skipped in the last four years where a cost of living raise was not given to the employees of the town. My strategy coming in was to update the equipment and start doing things ourself, not hiring contractors (and having the work done by town employees), and our employees are what carries us through this town.”
The council approved the proposed ordinance adopting an operating budget of revenue and expenditures for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1 and ending Sept. 30, 2020, during a special meeting on Sept. 25. Many of the town’s water, street and sewer department workers as well as the police department’s workers attended the meeting. The council also unanimously approved a proposed ordinance adopting an amended operating budget of revenue and expenditures for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, 2018, and ending Sept. 30.
Meche said, “We did (condemned and demolished) 16 houses, which if we would have hired a contractor, would have averaged about $7,500 a house (to demolish). We did that ourselves at a savings of $90,000. We did a bridge on Corporation Street that would have cost contractors $45,000. It cost us $9,000 at a savings of $36,000.”
Meche said $15,000 was also saved by not having to use a contractor to complete two six-foot culverts with blacktop on top of the structures.
“Being that we bought our own equipment and started doing our own work, we have saved $142,000 and what we are asking for is a 6% cost of living raise at a rate of $84,000, so if someone up here wants to explain how that is not a good deal, I will accept that now, but that savings is just the Street Department,” Meche said.
By using town employee labor and town equipment, Church Point’s Water Department has also saved about $20,000 and the Sewer Department has saved between $20,000 to $30,000.
“So, with those three departments, we would be somewhere around $180,000 to $190,000 of savings a year because we have equipped ourselves to do it ourselves,” Meche said. “The police department is in there with us. They are always going to run a tight budget, so we are going to have to help them out when we can, but I have say one more time — $190,000 of savings at a cost of $84,000, I will take that deal any day of the week.”
Meche said the town is also saving money and putting money aside in CDs.
Burton Kolder with Kolder, Slaven & Company gave the budget presentation at the meeting
“Church Point is debt free,” Kolder said.
He continued, “Next year’s budget shows no interest expense. You have none for 2020 because you paid the bonds. They are paid off, which is great, because you are debt free. That’s wonderful.”
Kolder then gave the revenue summary for the general fund. The summary is as follows: taxes (property taxes, franchise taxes) — last year, $383,000; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $383,000; and for the budget year next year, $382,500; licenses and permits — last year, $221,000; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $225,000; and for the budget next year, $229,500; intergovernmental revenues — last year, $147,800; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $60,000; and for the budget next year, $59,600; charges for service utility collection fees — last year, $5,600; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $4,500; and for the budget next year, $4,600; continuing education fund — last year, $4,060; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $2,100; and for the budget next year, $0; fines and forfeitures — last year, $213,600; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $182,000; and for the budget next year, $204,000; and miscellaneous revenues — last year, $99,900; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $77,500; and for the budget next year, $89,650.
Total revenues for the general fund of the town were: last year, $1,075,000; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $935,000; and for the budget next year, $970,000. How the monies in the general fund will be spent: general government — last year, $539,680; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $582,936; and for the budget next year, $539,947; community center — last year, $23,900; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $38,000; and for the budget next year, $35,700; culture and recreation — last year, $131,000; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $104,000; and for budget next year, $99,000; and capital outlay — last year, $0; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $69,883; and for next year, $30,000. Total expenditures for the general fund: last year, $764,000; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $858,000; for the budget next year, $759,000.
Total revenues — last year, $1,075,000; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $935,000; and for the budget next year, $970,000 and expenditures — last year, $764,000; estimate for final amended budget for this year, $858,000; and for the budget next year, $759,000.
Kolder also discussed excess of revenues over expenditures.
“Last year, we were at $311,000,” Kolder said. “We had to transfer out, mainly to the police fund, $152,000. That left us with a healthy surplus of $158,000, but remember, we did no capital (outlay) and so on. That left you with a fund balance of $207,000. If you recall, that beginning fund balance was very low at $48,000.”
Kolder said the amount was critical, but it was brought back up to $200,000, which is within tolerance.
Burton said, “In 2019, the excess of revenue will be $77,000, so it’s coming down. The transfers in, which is going to be $60,000 transferred in from the utility fund, but we are having to transfer $200,000 to subsidize the police fund.”
He continued, “Looking at 2020, $970,000 coming back in revenues, $759,000 in expenditures and that leaves you with an excess, before transfers in and out, of about $210,000. This year, we will transfer in about $20,000 from utility fund, still transfer $200,000 out to subsidize and operate the police department. That should leave you with a $30,000 surplus in this fund, and you should be back up to $175,000 of available fund balance or reserves in the general fund.”
During the meeting, the council also unanimously approved a motion to condemn and demolish the structure at 606 North Moss St. The property owner was given a timeline of 45 days to have structure demolished and removed, after which point the town would move forward with any further demolition and/or removal necessary.
A public hearing was held before the meeting for comments on:
• Adoption of a proposed ordinance adopting an amended operating budget of revenue and expenditures for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2018 and ending September 30, 2019.
• Adoption of a proposed ordinance adopting an operating budget of revenue and expenditures for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2019 and ending September 30, 2020.
No comments were made during the public hearing.
