ORTONVILLE – Gearing up for this year’s budget sessions, as well as to accommodate preparations for the 3 percent, $4,000 state shared revenue funding loss, village officials are looking at setting up a capital improvement plan.
The plan was presented on March 10 to the council by Village Manager Paul Zelenak, the idea of the plan is to help identify future village projects for long term budget consideration.
“This is not for council to take action on yet, but to get you to start thinking about it,” said Zelenak.
“To get you thinking in a budget frame of mind and look at projections for future years.”
The plan will be a five-year planning document which will assist in setting budget objectives with both short and long terms goals.
“Basically the plan will be dictated by, and would be impacted by everything from the Planning Commission, Village Council, the village Master Plan and Mission Statement, to Policies and Procedures to the Brandon Groveland Ortonville Master Recreation plan,” said Zelenak.
Zelenak said the plan will assist council to prepare future budgets with long term commitments to the community, giving consideration to already budgeted items. A depreciations schedule to keep track of budget planning for street repair, sidewalk repair, park improvements, Department of Public Works equipment repair or purchase, and village events, is a project focus.
Although budget study sessions will not start before April, and the plan does not require a council vote, Zelenak said he introduced the idea to council to get them thinking about project suggestions and services that should be considered for long term budget planning.
“It’s like running a business, CPA’s love the idea,” said Village President Sue Bess.
“It’s not going to happen overnight, but we need to do this so we don’t get any more $10,000 repair surprises.”