City of Mt. Vernon City Council met April 13.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
The Mt. Vernon City Council called a Workshop Meeting for Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 3:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1100 Main Street, Council Chamber Room, 2nd Floor, Mt. Vernon, Illinois.
Mayor John Lewis opened the meeting.
ROLL CALL
Roll call showed present: Council Member Ray Botch, Council Member Joe Gliosci, Council Member Donte Moore, Council Member Mike Young, and Mayor John Lewis. Also present: City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel, Finance Director Stephanie Bailey, and Deputy City Clerk Becky Barbour.
VISITORS/CITIZEN’S REQUESTS/ADDRESSES FROM THE AUDIENCE
No visitors spoke at the meeting.
REVIEW AND DISCUSSION ON THE PROPOSED 2023-2024 BUDGET
City Manager Mary Ellen Bechtel stated that this is the last workshop regarding next year’s budget before voting on a final budget at the April 17, 2023 Council Meeting.
GENERAL CORPORATE FUND
City Manager Bechtel introduced Finance Director Stephanie Bailey to explain the report and the changes which were made. Finance Director Bailey stated that the first report is the General Corporate Fund, and the second page shows the Fund Balance Report which shows live numbers as of today’s date. Those numbers will be reflected in the Budget Summary. Through the end of the month, those numbers will change marginally and that ending balance at the end of the month will be the beginning balance of the 2023-24 budget. City Manager Bechtel noted that this report is as of today, the City will be paying bills after Monday’s council meeting, there will be another month of bills and also a month of revenues. There was discussion regarding moving $2 million out of General Corporate to a capital account. This can be moved and put in the final budget to be voted on at the April 17 regular council meeting.
MOTOR FUEL TAX
City Manager Bechtel spoke about the capital projects and expenditures. Approximately $1.6 million will be invested in the city’s roads this year out of this fund.
SANITATION FUND
City Manager Bechtel stated that there will be an Ordinance at the Council Meeting to raise the sanitation rates by $1.50 to $23.00 per month. No changes from the last meeting on the Sanitation Fund.
AQUATIC ZOO FUND
City Manager Bechtel stated that the City is not going to raise rates on entry fees this year. We will be raising rates on concessions this year. This Fund will be subsidized this year. This is going to be moved into General Corporate after May 1.
TOURISM FUND
The Tourism Fund has two taxes that are paid into this fund. The Hotel/Motel tax is 5% (2% for the department and 3% for the City General Corporate Fund) and the Safety Tax which is $2.00 per night per room. The large projects from this fund are the Potomac median lighting, historical exhibit for water distribution and fireworks.
City Manager Bechtel stated that $650,000 is being budgeted in and out of the CDAP fund. This is a year that the City can apply for the Housing Rehab Grant and Crosswalk will apply for the grant and administer it. No city money is budgeted for this. It all comes from the grant.
QUALITY OF LIFE/ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FUND
City Manager Bechtel explained the different projects in this fund. JCDC is doing a housing study and the City has agreed to pay half of that cost at $12,500, $450,000 for body cams for the Police Department, Jaycee Lake project at $98,400, $469,000 for playground equipment which is from a grant, $47,000 for Aquatic Zoo slide and shelter sidewalk, website development at $30,000, Cusumano Complex improvements at $140,000, Veterans Park projects at $303,000, Optimist Park projects at $185,000, Veterans Park parking lots at $100,000, The Complex, renovation of Rolland Lewis building is budgeted at $2,500,000, 3rd and Main Storm Sewer at $250,000, Veterans Park walking path at $240,000, Police Station to complete is budgeted at $5,186,645, and Broadway Commons at $2,000,000.
HOME RULE SALES TAX FUND
City Manager Bechtel explained the Home Rule Sales Tax Fund is a special fund for demolition, purchasing equipment, paying off debt, water and sewer. There is a working fund balance of $3,857 at the end of the budget year. Included are estimated expenses of $500,000 for the demolition of the Jefferson Memorial Hospital, $275,000 for vehicle leasing, $100,000 for sidewalk repair and replacement, $250,000 for a bucket truck, $25,000 for park mower, $25,000 for nuisance crew mower, $300,000 for new dump trucks, $143,145 for 3 new squad cars, $2,100,000 road proposal for South 27th Street improvements, asphalt roller at $30,000 for in-house projects, $3,760,377 for South 44th Street connectors to 27th Street, $1,227,020 transfer to the water fund, $1,615,187 transfer to the sewer fund, $2,000,000 for Street Scape Grant – this is a grant to be applied for, $2,000,000 for South 26th Street and bridge repair.
PENSION SALES TAX FUND
The Pension Sales Tax Fund is estimated to have $1,913,069 on April 30, 2024
GENERAL CORPORATE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND
General Corporate Capital Projects Fund is projected to have a total working fund balance of $2,419,439 at the end of April, 2024. This budget includes refurbishing of a fire truck at an estimated cost of $300,000, 12th Street Building is estimated at $2,500,000, Roof for Maintenance Building at 12th & Casey estimated at a cost of $85,000, Manner Poly – extension of road at Fountain Place Industrial Park at a cost of $630,000, 11th & Casey Storm Project at an estimated cost of $300,000, the Public Works facility at an estimated cost of $2.5 million, Fountain Place signage at a cost of $60,000, and parking lot sealcoats at a cost of $50,000.
HEALTH INSURANCE FUND
City Manager Bechtel stated the Health Insurance Fund is doing fine. The premium did not increase this year.
WATER FUND
City Manager Bechtel stated the projected projects are $121,509 to complete Phase 1, L & N (Phase 2) is $2,180,000 and are expecting to go out for bids soon, Phase 3 is a project that has $6,416 outstanding, and Phase 4 has $3,235,000 budgeted for water line project. Eagle Court has estimated for fencing at $32,472. $75,000 is budgeted for the replacement of various water mains, 5-year plan shows $150,000 budgeted which would be for hiring a consultant if needed for water or sewer for additional 5-year plan. $10,000 budget for Logan Street to repair the City’s portion of the intersection of 27th and Logan Streets. $332,000 will be transferred to the sewer. City Manager Bechtel and Finance Director Bailey will review the transfers to water and sewer to establish if that transfer is necessary.
SEWER FUND
City Manager Bechtel stated that there is a lot planned for capital projects in the sewer fund. The screw press is $750,000 and it is currently being installed, $3,000,000 has been budgeted to replace the sand filter with a new technology for repairs that will need to be done, Fruit Bowl relining has a budget of $1,000,000, the NE Sewer Project has a budget of $1,000,000, Harlan Road East and West budgeted at $200,000, Midtown survey budgeted at $1,640,990, Manhole relining at $100,000, IEPA Sewer Inlet at $3,654,519 – this is the inlets at the sewer treatment plant, utility easement clearing has a budget of $12,000, $125,000 Olive & Pavey sewer line, Western Garden sewer $500,000, CDAP Sewer Project at $797,000 – this is a grant and it has not been started yet, $50,000 for flow meters, manhole lining at $200,000, inhouse material for sewer is $100,000, Summersville sewer relining is $950,000 and $331,152 transfer to water.
DOWNTOWN TIF FUND
The Downtown TIF fund has been budgeted to get a loan this year for TIF fund.
INDUSTRIAL PARK CONSERVATION AREA (WESTSIDE) TIF
The City has budgeted to pay off the loan. This will leave a working fund balance of $1,152.
RTE 15/I-57 (EASTSIDE) TIF
The Route 15/I-57 (Eastside) TIF is the account that has the Drury Inn in it. The projected working fund balance at the end of 2024 is $13,024.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
No Executive Session was held.
ADJOURNMENT
Council Member Joe Gliosci motioned to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Mike Young. Yeas: Botch, Gliosci, Moore, Young, and Lewis.
The meeting was adjourned at 4:23 p.m.
https://mtvernon.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/04132023-Budget-Workshop-Minutes.pdf
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