At the December 5 meeting, the Rushford Village Council again discussed the 2024 budget. As the proposed 7% levy increase currently stands, the budget has a $50,000 cushion. If the council reduces the final levy to 5%, the cushion will be $40,000. Some on the council questioned whether or not that was enough.
City staff removed several items from the proposed budget, including a replacement truck for public works, a lowered tool allotment, a new sign and bulletin board for the village hall, end-of-employment paid time off for village employees and chipsealing for south Rushford streets. Items included are a maximum of $20,000 for Fillmore County’s Village Road bridge project, a 3% Cost of Living Adjustment for city employees, and $20,000 designated for capital outlay for insulation and steel on the maintenance shed project. Miner noted that the principal payments on the public works truck will drop next year, and those funds can go towards other needs.
Councilor Travis Link asked where the 2023 budget is sitting compared to the previous year. However, with a month still to go and winter closing in, it’s too early to make predictions. 2022 actual was significantly higher than budgeted.
One of the most significant factors for the village is the ongoing need to get caught up on streets to a point where regularly planned maintenance can begin. Councilor Bob Hart questioned whether the village had routinely set aside funds for street projects and maintenance.
“We haven’t had the money. We spent it in other places,” said Treasurer Judy Graham.
There’s stuff we need to do that we haven’t been doing. We borrow from one place to another to cover emergencies. No one likes to raise the budget, but they like the amenities. If you continue not doing maintenance, at some point, you will need to, and then what do you do?”
“The longer we hold off, the more it costs us,” added Councilor Mike Ebner.
“Every time we turn around, there’s something new on the roads. It’s significant,” said Hart.
Also, the Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) and step/grade increases for village employees are unknown. Currently, the village is considering a 3% COLA increase and no step/grade increases. Should the council add a step increase, it would be an additional 2%.
Hart and Councilor Rick Ruberg suggested step/grade increases incentivize employees to improve themselves through training and securing additional certificates and licensures.
“Steps are given as they come out of apprenticeship to where they’re competent, then used as a longevity tool instead of a training tool,” added Ebner.
At the next meeting, the council will vote on the budget and levy, as well as the COLA and step/grade increases.
The council did vote unanimously to approve an end-of-year payout of compensatory time for employees rather than carry it over to the following year. Employees can choose to bank overtime until the end of the year rather than have it paid out with their paychecks. The village can take either option, but carryover requires more recordkeeping and tax issues.
According to City Clerk Mary Miner, no compensatory time is used by employees this year and only two are eligible. The village capped it at 30 hours per employee. The payout cost would be under $2,000 and the village must update theur employee handbook to reflect the change.
Community and Economic Development Associates’ Community and Business Development Specialist Rebecca Charles was present to discuss any updates on her work. She stated that her feedback on the community input event is helping with the update to the comprehensive plan. CEDA mailed 408 surveys to village property owners and received responses from roughly 20%.
The council approved a Safe Routes to School Design Assistance Grant letter of support. According to Charles, it provides for engineering services. If the village decides to seek a Safe Routes to School Grant, it will offer some parameters of what kind of funding the village would require. She clarified there is no taxpayer funding going towards the Design Assistance Grant. Charles will seek a similar letter of support from the Rushford Peterson School District and the city of Rushford.
Lastly, the council approved $3,713 to STS Plumbing to finish the bathroom piping and fixtures for the maintenance shed project. They also certified $1,693 in unpaid utility payments to Fillmore County.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, December 19, at 7 p.m. at the village hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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