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Tighter budget lies ahead for Burton
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - November 12, 2008)
Tighter budget lies ahead for Burton
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
Burton Village will be living a little leaner next year as revenues are expected to drop and officials look for ways to pay for a new waste-water-treatment plant.
Village Fiscal Officer Christopher Paquette presented Village Council with its first look Monday at a proposed 2009 budget estimated at $2.3 million. Last year's budget was $2.6 million.
Mr. Paquette cited two reasons for the drop in the budget, saying the village has lost revenue in water and sewer income and about $10,000 to $15,000 in interest on its deposits.
He said the proposed budget is not cast in stone and could be revised if deemed necessary by council. "We now just have to figure how to spend it," he said.
Kenneth Kleve, who chairs the village's board of public affairs, attended the meeting and watched closely as money was allocated for various projects or services.
The board of public affairs is overseeing a $6 million to $7 million renovation of the village's treatment plant and is seeking to secure the money through rate hikes, outside funding and a shifting of village revenue. He previously proposed using collections from the village admissions tax for the treatment-plant project.
Mr. Paquette said the proposed budget allocates admission taxes as originally intended for an improvement project on North Cheshire Street.
Mayor Thomas Blair Sr. said the money may still be shifted toward the treatment plant, but officials want to take a "wait-and-see" attitude with how well their application for state infrastructure funding fares.
Mr. Blair said the treatment plant is the single, biggest project ever undertaken by the village, and officials have to explore every possible funding source to offset its impact on the finances. Although rate hikes will be used, he said, village residents cannot be expected to take on the entire cost.
Mr. Kleve asked when the contract with Geauga-TV is expiring, hinting that that money could also be shifted toward the treatment-plant project. "It's another source of revenue," he said.
Resident Jack Garner questioned a proposed 5.8 percent pay increase for the village's street workers.
Councilwoman Sandra Humbert said the pay hike is only proposed and does not mean the village will agree to it. "It doesn't mean they'll get it," she said.
Councilman Gerald Rouge explained an allocation of $25,000 for sidewalk repairs in the village. He said some of the money is expected to be used for the North Cheshire Street project. He said officials also are considering extending sidewalks east along Goodwin Avenue to the American Legion post and Welton Cemetery.
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