Ortonville- The village, like other municipalities and businesses in the current economy, has decreasing revenues and increased costs, but the budget will be balanced for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.
The council unanimously approved the village budget during their June 22 meeting. The budget has estimated revenues of $600,579 and expenditures of the same.
‘Our budget is balanced and followed and good to go,? said Village Manager Ed Coy.
There are no employee raises in the budget this year, but a full-time Department of Public Works employee is planned for in the budget, as well as two part-time DPW employees. The council has unanimously approved a settlement with Teamsters Local 214 that the union will no longer represent the DPW unit at the village after July 1. Since the termination this past winter of former DPW employees Bill Prince and Kevin Booms (both of whom the village also recently settled with) the village has employed private contractors and a part-time employee to provide DPW services. Although the village budgeted for the full-time and part-time employees, Coy said, ‘It doesn’t necessarily mean we are going to run out and hire those people. The way we are handling DPW services is a matter of discussion among the council.?
DPW services needed during the summer months in the village include mowing, painting, minor building maintenance, weed whipping and general cleanup.
Coy said it is undetermined what capital improvements will be done in the village this year. Roughly one-third of a plan for sidewalk replacement in the village has been completed, and $37,000 has been budgeted for sidewalks this year.
‘Sidewalks will be completed in accordance with the original plan as village funds allow,? said Coy. ‘If the budget allows it, the sidewalks will be worked on this summer. The council has to discuss and decide whether we do repairs in the streets and sidewalks and decide what the mix is with limited funds.?