VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING MINUTES
MARCH 18, 2019
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Berman called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Dale Berman, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Mike Lowery, Trustee Laura Curtis, Trustee Mark Carroll, Trustee Tao Martinez, Trustee Mark Guethle, Village Clerk Lori Murray.
Staff in attendance: Village Administrator Steve Bosco, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Community & Economic Development Director Mike Toth, Public Works Director John Laskowski, Police Chief David Fisher, Village Atty. Kevin Drendel.
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
DISCUSSION
1. Draft Budget Discussion
Finance Director Bill Hannah reported that the draft budget was finalized last week. Tonight is an overview of that draft budget. The official budget public hearing will be held on April 15th and scheduled approval of the budget is set for May 6th.
Hannah said that there was a very strong economic growth regionally and within the village.
Sales tax revenue growth is leveling off and a 0.6% reduction is anticipated for next year.
This is the 4th strong year of EAV increases and a very strong year for new construction.
The budget is $22.7 million in revenues and $26.7 million in expenditures.
General Fund: Total revenues of $11.5 million and total expenditures just under $11.5 million.
Personnel Changes
Addition of one public works laborer (bringing the total to 7): $77,000
Addition of one police officer (brings the total number of sworn officers to 30).
The need for more officers is due to increased activity as shown in stats for 2018:
-Police logged close to 20,000 incidents.
-Written warnings were up 157%.
-Written tickets up 58%.
-Ordinance violations up 321%.
-DUI arrests up 21%.
-Adult arrests up 21%.
-Juvenile arrests up 36%.
-There were 124 administrative tows, which is up 24%.
Trustee Carroll noted that from a public safety standpoint as well as the safety of the officers, would like the goal for additional officers to be reached sooner than later.
Pay adjustments for the salary ranges for nonunion staff level will be 1.5% to 2.25% based on position. The three collective bargaining contracts are set for the next 3-4 years:
FOP at 2%
Officers at 3.25%
Public Works at 2.75%.
Seasonal GIS intern for the summer: $6,000 – $7,000. An intern will be hired for about 12 weeks, doing field work and office GIS work.
IMRF Contributions are at $257,000 (30 employees covered by IMRF).
Capital Improvements
-2019 Road Improvements Program: estimated to be $1.9 million.
-Riverfront Park Improvements: $250,000
-LED light (374 fixtures) and pole replacement (17) for $205,000 using MFT Reserves.
-Silo Refurbishing Lighting $300,000 (Rte. 31 TIF District Fund and grant revenues)
-Engineering of Orchard Gateway Future Reconstruction: Budgeted $62,500 for preliminary engineering.
-Installation of the rip rap along the east side of Village Hall mill race: $40,000 out of the capital projects fund.
Hannah noted that the draft budget does not include a long term capital project section that it usually has and that this will be provided at a future meeting.
Water Funded Capital Projects
-Completion of Wells 8 and 9: Approx. $1.2 million of work for each.
-Construction of the new water tower: Approx. $2 million.
-Pull Well 5 out of service for maintenance and repairs: $165,000. Also looking at putting extra money towards converting that to a pitless adaptor and moving the well house structure out there and having the piping underground.
-Study to analyze the water treatment plant efficiencies: $14,500
-Water pressure flow modeling study: $8,000.
Capital Equipment and Vehicles
-Replacement of 2 of the older police patrol utility vehicles: Total cost of $85,000.
-Purchase of the Starcom 21 radio system.
Trustee Carroll asked if the radios are recorded. Chief Fisher said only if someone is talking to a dispatch center.
-Replacement of critical village IT Network/hardware infrastructure (firewalls, switches, wireless access points): Cost of $50,000.
-Purchase of a replacement leaf vactor: $54,000. The village plans to retain the old leaf vactor as a backup.
-IT projects: purchase of monitors, computers, one server, purchase of police squad replacement printers.
Sales Tax
$4.72 million in the current year and $4.75 million in the upcoming budget year. About $475,000 is rebated for various economic incentive agreements.
Income Tax
Looking at an increase of 7% in the current year and 5% for next year.
Building Permit Revenue
Projection for this year: $525,000. Budgeted next fiscal year: $416,000.
Use Tax
Collected by the state on out of state purchases. This has contributed to a double digit increase in use tax revenue in the current fiscal year and expect that trend to continue to next fiscal year.
The General Fund over the last 5 years has seen revenues exceeding expenditures and the village has have been in good shape and balanced going forward.
After the presentation, there were no questions by the Board.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Guethle and seconded by Trustee Curtis. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
