BUDGET WORKSHOP – FY 21/22

Lincoln City Hall, Council Chambers

700 Broadway Street | Lincoln, Illinois

Monday, April 5, 2021

The Budget Workshop with the City Council of Lincoln was called to order by Acting Mayor Tracy Welch at 8:11 p.m., with proper notice given. Attendance was noted.

Present:

Alderman Tracy Welch, Ward 1

Alderman Steve Parrott, Ward 1

Alderman Colby Leith, Ward 2

Alderman Sam Downs, Ward 2

Alderman Kevin Bateman, Ward 3

Alderman Ron Keller, Ward 3

Alderman Jeff Hoinacki, Ward 4

Alderwoman Kathy Horn, Ward 4

Staff Present:

City Administrator Elizabeth Kavelman

City Clerk Peggy Bateman

Treasurer Chuck Conzo

Police Chief Paul Adams

Absent:

City Attorney John Hoblit

Remotely:

Fire Chief Bob Dunovsky

Streets Superintendent Walt Landers

Building and Safety Officer Wes Woodhall

Veolia Water, Andrew Bowns

Presiding:

Acting Mayor Tracy Welch

Public Participation:

There was no one present to speak for public participation.

Acting Mayor Welch asked Treasurer Conzo to read the State Statute regarding the process that the City follows for its budget.  Treasurer Conzo stated that the Council follows Illinois Municipal Code Chapter 65 Section 5-8-2-9.9 Public Inspection Notice Hearing on Budget. He then read the Statute. 

Animal Control

Fee based on Contract

Audit Fee

Based on Auditors

IMRF & Social Security Contributions

Treasurer Conzo is rechecking this totals

Transfers

Based on loans and is kept at the same level.

TIF Fund

Amount is based off of last year.  The City is still waiting on the report from the County. 

Liability Insurance

Large increase from $541,000 to $653,000 due to workman’s comp claims and greater premiums. 

City Clerk

Budget has been cut by almost $10,000.

City Treasurer

Shaved $200 from his budget. 

Travel and Training was not used as much due to COVID.

City Administrator

Lines were eliminated at the direction of the Acting Mayor.

Salaries

Salaries for the $25,000-$50,000 range employees have historically been too low.  The budget committee is recommending at flat rate increase of $2500 for the FY. This will get employees closer to the same pay of other municipalities.  Overall increase will be $19,571.43 in a $26 million budget.  This City is in a position to do this this year.  This will not be a reoccurring increase.

Department Head raises will go as followed…

B/Z – 6%

S/A – 3.5%

Police Chief – 3.5%

Fire Chief – 3.5% 

Building and Zoning

New tires are needed on the City vehicle.

Line 8342 – increased by $100 due to the increase in title searches

Travel & Training – down $500

Demo & Cleanup – $30,000 not used in FY20/21.  RFP is on the next COW for demo at 518 2^nd St.

B/Z has applied for at $75,000 grant to assist in the cleanup of nuisance properties, have not gotten a response yet.

Crossing Guards

Line decreased due to only one crossing guard

Merit Commissions

Increase to Appropriations

Mayor and City Council

Salaries Clerical – Amount should come over from the City Administrator’s salary

Contract Services – Legal

Amount based on current contract with City Attorney plus additional for outside legal fees

Contingencies

Copier contract is lowered

Fire Department

Budget is on target – not many changes

Overtime is down as promised due to the hiring of additional fireman

Police Department

Gas & Oil line will increase due to the increase is fuel costs

Contractual Services line will have a big increase

            1.  New Tasers – Current Tasers aren’t working, batteries are failing

            2.  Body Cameras – Required by the new Police Reform.  Department is looking to lease the

            Cameras to keep cost down and stay up to date on technology.

Building and Grounds

Telephone services up $3,500

Discussion on new roof for City Hall.  Each time repairs are made it costs upwards of $1000.  A new metal roof would cost approx. $280,000 and a new shingled roof would cost approx. $100,000.

IT Services

Line for outsourcing IT support.  An RFP will be sent out. 

Economic Planning & Development

$6,000 for 3^rd Fridays – 3 events planned

$60,000 for Economic Development Grants – anything approved in FY 20/21 but not paid out, will be added to the FY 21/22 budget.

Street & Alley

Removed Personal Items line – not used a lot, will use another line if needed

Increase clothing allowance – this wasn’t done in the previous budget in error. Increase for new employee & replacement employee

Gas & Oil – raised $4,000 due to fuel costs

Supplies & Materials – reduced from $70,000 to $50,000.  Appropriations set to cover just in case.

Traffic Signal Repair – reduced $15,000

3606 Salaries – The highest paid employee retired last year with another high paying employee retiring in a couple months.  The department would like to hire a 9^th employee. 

Health Benefits

Reduction in cost due to competing rates found by City Broker

Motor Fuel Tax

Street Light Electric – Through a grant from Ardaugh,  the Street Dept. replaced several street lights with energy saving led lights. Ameren did several too.  $60,000 was budgeted for current year and year to date only $37,000 has been spent.

Traffic Signal – dropped down

Salaries hourly – large increase due to MFT work

Heitmann Drive – Engineering and Construction costs covered under Rebuild Illinois program.

Debt Services

Bond Payments the City is obligated to make in FY 21/22

The Council decided to stop for the night.  An additional Budget Workshop will be on April 13, 2021

Adjournment:

There being no further discussion to come before the City Council of Lincoln, Alderman Keller motioned to adjourn, seconded by Alderwoman Horn. Acting Mayor Welch adjourned the meeting at 9:40 p.m.

Respectfully Submitted By:

Charity Hutchison, Recording Secretary