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Town Board Budget Approval Meeting
Nov 30, 2010

UNAPPROVED

TOWN OF GENEVA

PUBLIC HEARING AND

BUDGET APPROVAL MEETING

NOVEMBER 30, 2010

Chairman Lauderdale called the duly posted and noticed meeting to order at 5:31 p.m. Pledge of Allegiance. In addition to Lauderdale, in attendance were Supervisors Millard, Kulik, and Kamps, and Town Accountant Pat Romenesko. Supervisor Kukla was excused. Clerk/Treasurer Kirch took the minutes of the meeting. At the beginning of the meeting there were two residents present of which one was eligible to vote.

Lauderdale gave the background behind the decision to adjustment the salaries for the Town Board members. During the budget process, several of our department heads and employees took cuts. During the workshops the Board felt they would also take a cut. Feels salaries are higher than others in comparable positions. Motion (Lauderdale/Millard) that the salary for Chairman of the Town of Geneva be reduced from $10,000 to $9,000 annually beginning next term. Approved 5-1. Motion (Kulik/Kamps) to adjust the salary at the next term for Supervisors of the Town of Geneva from $6,500 to $5,500 annually. Approved 5-1.

Motion (Kamps/Kulik) to open the public hearing on the 2011 proposed budget. Approved 4-0. Romenesko reviewed the proposed budget. While the Town was allowed to increase the tax levy by $77,693, it actually went down by $14,000. Assessed value for property has decreased for the first time that Pat could remember. Goal was to attempt to keep the mill rate unchanged at $1.91. To maintain that, the levy would have to decrease by $14,668. In the proposed budget, the revenues are down 7.97%, and the expenses are down 8.1%. Non-represented employees will receive a 1% increase.

Lauderdale made several comments including his concern about the levy remaining at $1.91 for the fourth consecutive year. Cut $128,000 from the original department requests, then had to cut an additional $78,000 from that. Need to look out for the future of the Town. He is worried about meeting the levy limit for next year. Would like to see somewhat of an increase this year and put that surplus into a contingency fund. He is worried about the large increase that could be coming next year. Discussed how much revenue would result from a levy increase of $.04; approximately $33,000 or a 2.1% increase. Would amount to an $8 increase on a $200,000 property. Comments from residents included:

· Court revenue was increased on the 2011 budget by $12,000, when it will fall $51,000 short this year.

· Police Department is down two officers. He feels it is 30-40% understaffed and needs 15-17 officers.

· The Town doesn’t provide much in services so we don’t have services to cut.

· Cutting salaries undermines the value of employees.

· Feels the Town needs an Administrator with public sector management and HR experience to plan for what’s coming down the road.

One more resident arrived at 6:10 p.m. Supervisor Kamps left at 6:15 p.m.

· Would rather have slight annual increases than a large one all at once.

· Questioned how we will finish out 2010. We should project out into the future. Without that information, she doesn’t know if this budget is attainable. Requests projected year-end numbers in the next budget.

Motion (Kulik/Millard) to close the public hearing. Approved 3-0. Motion (Kulik/ ) to approve the Town of Geneva 2011 budget with a mill rate of $1.91. Motion failed due to lack of a second. Motion (Lauderdale/Millard) to approve the Town of Geneva 2011 budget setting the levy mill rate of $1.95 per $1,000 of assessed value and any additional revenues that result in the increase are put into a contingency fund. Approved 2-1 (Kulik).

Motion (Kulik/Millard) to adjourn at 6:31 p.m. Approved 3-0.

_______________________________

Chairman Lauderdale

_______________________________ _______________________________

Supervisor Millard Supervisor Kulik

Respectfully submitted,

_______________________________

Debra L. Kirch, CMC/WCMC

Clerk/Treasurer

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