7/12/11 Millersburg sees deficit in 2012

  • By Nick Sabo
  • July 12, 2011
  • 278
                        
SUMMARY: Decrease projected in revenues from states, tax changes Millersburg Village Council will have some hard decisions in front of them as they prepare a budget blueprint for 2012. According to an estimated 2012 tax budget presented before council July 11 by Village Clerk/Treasurer Karen Shaffer, Millersburg is looking at a deficit of at least $71,000 next year. Shaffer said a decrease in revenues is to blame, mostly brought on by Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s austere 2011 - 2012 biennial budget. Effective July 31, state revenues for the village are estimated to come in at $75,000 lower than expected due to cuts in local government funding and decreased tax revenues, Shaffer said. Speaking Monday July 11 after council’s regular meeting, Shaffer said 2012 will start out $71,000 in the hole, wiping out a $72,000 carryover. According to numbers presented by Shaffer, tangible personal property tax, eliminated by the general assembly, brought in $8,714 in 2011; that revenue stream has completely dried up. General fund reimbursement will drop from $1,349 in 2011 to zero in 2012. Local government funds have been reduced from an estimated $28,513 in 2011 to an estimated $19,674 in 2012. The estate tax is also being phased out next year. That leaves the village with an estimated $1.36 million general fund to operate on, Shaffer said. The village’s primary local revenue streams are a 1 percent income tax, a 5 mill levy and annual real estate tax settlements and make up the majority of the general fund budget. The income tax and real estate revenues are tied to the economy and Shaffer said she expects them to remain flat from last year. The levy, first passed in 1979, generates $195,000 per year. Mayor Jeff Huebner scheduled a work session on the budget for July 18. He said he does not know what measures council may take to make up the shortfall. “I don’t know what we’ll do,” Huebner said. “We are having the work session to see what avenue we will take.” The tax budget is a projection of what revenues will look like at the beginning of the year and will come into better focus as the year progresses, Shaffer said. The final budget should be approved by Jan. 1, 2012, Shaffer said. “You can actually extend it to March, but we usually have it ready by the first of the year,” Shaffer said. In other business, council approved an agreement with the Holmes County Amateur Radio Association to place a transmitter on the village’s tower. Village Administrator Kevin Brooks said the association will sign a maintenance agreement that includes mowing the property around the tower and removing old wire and other non-functioning apparatus. The village’s transmitter and the association’s work on different frequencies and will not interfere with one another, Brooks said. Huebner said the agreement will save the village in upkeep costs. “We got an estimate to remove (the excess wire) on the tower and it was like $1,500,” Huebner said. “This is a win/win for all, as far as I’m concerned.” Brooks further reported that work on the Crissey Memorial pool is underway. The damaged concrete has been removed and the deep end basin, which was not damaged, has settled back to its original position. Brooks said two weeks will be necessary to dry out the soil beneath the pool before prep work for new concrete can begin. “We seem to have a really good handle” on the repairs, Brooks said. “We’ll have more information in August. We want to take our time and look at all the options; we’re not opening this year and we have time to make sure this is done right.” The pool closed after floodwaters created upward pressure on the pool basin, causing it to fracture along old cracks. The pool is expected to reopen in 2012 for the regular season. The next meeting of Millersburg Council will be held July 25.


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load