WEBVTT 00:00:01.580 --> 00:00:13.580 All right, being it's 5.30, we'd like to call the Finance Committee of the Whole meeting to order. Madam Clerk, if you could take the roll, please. 00:00:13.580 --> 00:00:14.580 Mayor Miller? 00:00:14.580 --> 00:00:15.580 Here. 00:00:15.580 --> 00:00:18.579 Alderperson Klemm is absent. Johnson? 00:00:18.579 --> 00:00:19.579 Here. 00:00:19.579 --> 00:00:21.579 Simmons is absent. Parker? 00:00:21.579 --> 00:00:22.579 Here. 00:00:22.579 --> 00:00:23.579 Stacy? 00:00:23.579 --> 00:00:24.579 Here. 00:00:24.579 --> 00:00:25.579 Shadle? 00:00:25.579 --> 00:00:26.579 Here. 00:00:26.579 --> 00:00:27.579 Sanders is absent. 00:00:27.579 --> 00:00:28.579 And Sellers? 00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:29.579 Here. 00:00:29.579 --> 00:00:31.579 We do have a quorum though. 00:00:31.579 --> 00:00:35.579 Thank you. If we could join me for the Pledge of Allegiance. 00:00:35.579 --> 00:00:41.579 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America 00:00:41.579 --> 00:00:50.579 and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 00:00:50.579 --> 00:00:58.520 Thank you. And if we could have approval of the agenda. 00:00:58.520 --> 00:01:01.520 So move. I second. 00:01:01.520 --> 00:01:07.319 That's a motion by Sellers and a second by Johnson. All in favor? 00:01:07.319 --> 00:01:08.319 Aye. 00:01:08.319 --> 00:01:10.319 And opposed? 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:15.819 That's approved and we need approval of the minutes from November 3rd of 2025. 00:01:15.819 --> 00:01:16.819 So move. 00:01:16.819 --> 00:01:17.819 Second. 00:01:17.819 --> 00:01:20.819 Motion by Sellers, second by Parker. All in favor? 00:01:20.819 --> 00:01:21.819 Aye. 00:01:21.819 --> 00:01:23.819 And opposed? 00:01:23.819 --> 00:01:25.819 Seeing none, that's approved. 00:01:25.819 --> 00:01:30.319 We have item six is public comments for agenda items. 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:32.120 There were none signed up. 00:01:32.120 --> 00:01:35.260 None signed. I see nobody in the audience. 00:01:37.420 --> 00:01:40.920 And then item seven is discussion of the library budget 00:01:41.659 --> 00:01:54.459 by Director Huffines, please. 00:01:54.459 --> 00:01:56.359 Good evening. 00:01:56.359 --> 00:01:58.659 Let me see if I can do this. Yep. OK. 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:03.540 So the library works a little differently than the city 00:02:03.959 --> 00:02:08.740 because we have one main source of revenue, which is property taxes. 00:02:08.740 --> 00:02:16.979 We do not receive any funding from the city's budget for our operating expenses or for our capital improvement projects. The library is 00:02:17.539 --> 00:02:18.639 self-funded. 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:24.060 So there are a few lines that I'm going to discuss regarding the library's budget. 00:02:24.259 --> 00:02:30.180 So we're going to start with the payroll lines and this is I'm just reading straight from the memo and 00:02:30.699 --> 00:02:36.180 on the screen we will still be able to see all of the expense lines for 00:02:36.180 --> 00:02:39.500 for our personnel, which is what we're starting with. 00:02:40.419 --> 00:02:45.419 So items 5,000, 5,010, 5,195, 5,210, 5,215, 5,220, 5,230, 5,235, 5,245, and 5,295 00:03:00.139 --> 00:03:02.659 are all our payroll expenses. 00:03:02.659 --> 00:03:13.139 And you'll notice that in FY 2025, we totaled $788,660 for payroll, including benefits. 00:03:13.139 --> 00:03:32.060 And in FY 2026, we're projected to be spending $809,329 for a total increase of $20,620,665. 00:03:32.060 --> 00:03:35.259 I'm gonna keep going and when I'm done going through the memo, 00:03:35.259 --> 00:03:39.939 we'll go back and talk about if you have any questions 00:03:39.939 --> 00:03:42.139 when it comes to the rest of the budget. 00:03:42.139 --> 00:03:44.300 So for non payroll related expenses, 00:03:44.300 --> 00:03:46.819 the majority of our expenses are remaining the same 00:03:46.819 --> 00:03:48.780 or have small increases. 00:03:48.780 --> 00:03:50.560 I'll discuss the larger increase, 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:52.860 but please ask any questions related to items 00:03:52.860 --> 00:03:54.900 I do not explain. 00:03:54.900 --> 00:03:59.900 Line item 6395 is our insurance other than employee benefits, 00:03:59.900 --> 00:04:00.900 Miller. 00:04:00.900 --> 00:04:03.900 We also have our employee benefits, which includes our liability insurance for our building 00:04:03.900 --> 00:04:09.340 and grounds, as well as the insurance coverage we have for the executive director and the 00:04:09.340 --> 00:04:11.139 board of trustees. 00:04:11.139 --> 00:04:17.660 In FY 2025, the cost is $45,360. 00:04:17.660 --> 00:04:20.699 We're actually spending $55,000. 00:04:20.699 --> 00:04:25.100 So that was under budget this year, well, I mean, over budget. 00:04:25.100 --> 00:04:34.100 And then in FY 2026, we re-budgeted that line to 60,000 to make sure that we're in, including 00:04:34.100 --> 00:04:37.160 all of the increases we've seen the past two years. 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:42.079 So the total increase is going to be $14,640. 00:04:42.079 --> 00:04:50.720 In FY 2026, we will transfer $52,265 from our reserves to help cover our budget. 00:04:50.720 --> 00:04:57.420 So Van Raden Fund is from our history room, which covers the history expense line, which 00:04:57.420 --> 00:05:03.699 is line item 6379 for $5,000. 00:05:03.699 --> 00:05:07.660 And that is special reserves that can only be spent in the history room. 00:05:07.660 --> 00:05:16.560 Our IMRF reserves, the total that we have in our budget this year is 13,130 and that's 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:19.680 line item 5195. 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:23.620 and that's completely going to be taken from our reserves, which is also restricted and 00:05:23.620 --> 00:05:32.779 can only be spent on IMRF. We're taking capital equipment funds of $9,000, which is reserved 00:05:32.779 --> 00:05:38.339 from a tech grant that we received in FY 2024. And we'll be spending the rest of that down 00:05:38.339 --> 00:05:49.660 on new patron computers. And then our building fund, we're taking $20,135 for capital outlay. 00:05:49.660 --> 00:05:56.550 which is line item 7040. 00:05:56.870 --> 00:06:00.970 And we're using that, it's completely restricted funds 00:06:00.970 --> 00:06:03.009 that can only be used on the building. 00:06:03.009 --> 00:06:06.750 And we're using that for our bathroom remodels. 00:06:06.750 --> 00:06:09.149 And then we have our liability and insurance 00:06:09.149 --> 00:06:13.750 slash FICA reserve of $5,000 to cover insurance 00:06:13.750 --> 00:06:15.509 other than employee benefits, 00:06:15.509 --> 00:06:20.509 which is this year we were at $4,000. 00:06:21.550 --> 00:06:28.189 for $55,000. So we re-budget it for $60,000 and that extra $5,000 we're going to take 00:06:28.189 --> 00:06:32.990 from our reserves to help cover for that. And in coordination with the Library Board 00:06:32.990 --> 00:06:38.870 of Trustees, I ask the City Council to approve the FY 2026 budget when it is presented at 00:06:38.870 --> 00:06:45.389 an upcoming City Council meeting. And then this directly reflects with responsive, efficient 00:06:45.389 --> 00:06:49.389 government for our strategic plan. 00:06:49.389 --> 00:06:55.350 So, any questions on the budget? 00:06:55.350 --> 00:06:56.550 Holden, Ms. Sellers. 00:06:56.550 --> 00:06:59.550 Yeah, just like to know the increases, 00:06:59.550 --> 00:07:02.790 are they because, are they there because of, 00:07:02.790 --> 00:07:06.670 you have more programming or you have more people or, 00:07:06.670 --> 00:07:09.470 you know, what's the increase of all these, 00:07:09.470 --> 00:07:11.949 these line items, is it because of those things? 00:07:11.949 --> 00:07:16.310 So the expense line is just renegotiated with AFSCME 00:07:16.310 --> 00:07:19.350 and then it's also just the general payroll increases 00:07:19.350 --> 00:07:22.389 for health insurance, retirement, social security, 00:07:22.389 --> 00:07:24.629 Medicare, all of that. 00:07:24.629 --> 00:07:28.829 And then the insurance is, insurance all kinds 00:07:28.829 --> 00:07:32.550 is going up, you know, car, building, health, 00:07:32.550 --> 00:07:34.350 all of that is rising. 00:07:34.350 --> 00:07:37.550 So the two main areas that we've seen increases in 00:07:37.550 --> 00:07:41.589 are not directly reflective of the programming that we have. 00:07:41.589 --> 00:07:42.430 Okay, thank you. 00:07:44.269 --> 00:07:45.110 Alderman Stacey. 00:07:45.110 --> 00:08:00.110 Yes, Ashley Perr. You're in my conversation. And you had shared that taxes were going to go up 4.96%. 00:08:00.110 --> 00:08:07.699 I think it's 4.94%. 4.94%. 00:08:07.699 --> 00:08:15.500 That is a levy, the levy conversation. But I will still answer any questions about it. 00:08:15.500 --> 00:08:18.000 The levy is next on the agenda. 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:22.339 OK, I'll wait for the levy because it may get answered. 00:08:22.339 --> 00:08:26.660 OK. 00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:30.800 There was several items you said you were going to spend out of reserves. 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:34.799 What is that total up to? 00:08:34.799 --> 00:08:39.000 The items that we're spending out of our reserves are fund balance transfer 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:45.940 for FY 2025, which is current now is eighty one thousand six hundred 00:08:45.940 --> 00:08:48.980 and 00:08:48.980 --> 00:08:52.240 and 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:53.139 out of our reserves. 00:08:53.139 --> 00:09:01.379 And that's, as the budget stands, you need that to make up. 00:09:01.379 --> 00:09:02.379 Correct. 00:09:02.379 --> 00:09:05.529 Okay. 00:09:05.529 --> 00:09:06.529 Thank you. 00:09:06.529 --> 00:09:09.960 Anything else? 00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:11.480 That's the end of that one. 00:09:11.480 --> 00:09:17.600 And then we'll move right into item eight with this presentation of the Library Tax Levy. 00:09:17.600 --> 00:09:36.860 Okay, so the City Council adopts a separate levy for the library operations each year. 00:09:36.860 --> 00:09:44.620 In 2023, the library reduced our levy request for Medicare, liability insurance, unemployment, 00:09:44.620 --> 00:09:50.580 and Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, which is IMRF, in order to spend down our prior 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:53.259 reserves in these areas. 00:09:53.259 --> 00:09:57.899 At the time, we informed council that these rates would need to increase when the funds 00:09:57.899 --> 00:09:59.980 were exhausted. 00:09:59.980 --> 00:10:03.580 The EAV equalized assessed value for the city of Freeport 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:08.580 has decreased by $105,004 over the past year. 00:10:09.539 --> 00:10:11.980 Due to this decrease, any additional increment 00:10:11.980 --> 00:10:15.799 from the rising property values is not available. 00:10:15.799 --> 00:10:19.100 The other alternative is to increase the tax rate. 00:10:19.100 --> 00:10:22.059 As the 2023 levy was decreased previously 00:10:22.059 --> 00:10:23.820 in order to spend down reserves, 00:10:23.820 --> 00:10:25.980 the library would like to increase the rate 00:10:25.980 --> 00:10:29.159 for 2025 paid in 2026. 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:31.080 The library may increase their tax rate, 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:35.759 but only in an amount to under 5% of the previous level. 00:10:35.759 --> 00:10:39.179 Based on this information, the library's library request 00:10:39.179 --> 00:10:44.179 for 2025 paid in 2026 is $1,114,500. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:50.000 This increase would generate $52,500 more 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:52.879 in property taxes from last year. 00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:56.559 and the property taxes make up about 84% 00:10:56.559 --> 00:10:58.279 of the library's income. 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:02.680 A house valued at $100,000 would see an increase of $6 00:11:02.680 --> 00:11:05.379 on their library portion of their tax bill. 00:11:08.440 --> 00:11:11.480 And then you can see the information 00:11:11.480 --> 00:11:14.620 about the rates up there on the screen. 00:11:16.360 --> 00:11:22.700 And I will entertain questions. 00:11:22.700 --> 00:11:23.759 All in favor, Stacy. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:24.600 Thank you. 00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:32.600 Does this happen automatic? I mean, is there a vote other than the council? 00:11:32.600 --> 00:11:40.600 There's first, the library board also has to vote to approve this. We meet on Wednesday. 00:11:40.600 --> 00:11:44.600 Depending on the schedule of meetings year by year, 00:11:44.600 --> 00:11:51.600 sometimes the library meets first, sometimes the city council will have their first reading, 00:11:51.600 --> 00:12:11.720 Huffines. I'm going to be able to take your feedback that you give me here to the meeting 00:12:11.720 --> 00:12:21.750 on Wednesday to discuss that with the library board. 00:12:21.750 --> 00:12:29.069 I guess what I'm asking is whether or not the homeowner taxes go up. 00:12:29.069 --> 00:12:32.149 Is that determined right here? 00:12:32.149 --> 00:12:36.549 Yes, that's what the levy is, correct. 00:12:36.549 --> 00:12:41.830 It's a little bit different because the city can just make their own decision about their levy 00:12:41.830 --> 00:12:47.470 and it's just totally you and you don't have other boards that are approving it. 00:12:47.470 --> 00:12:50.830 The library board is the only other board that does the levy. 00:12:50.830 --> 00:12:53.470 So it's the library board doing their own levy. 00:12:53.470 --> 00:12:56.389 And then you have to approve what they bring to you. 00:12:56.389 --> 00:12:59.069 If you don't approve it, the library has to go back 00:12:59.069 --> 00:13:04.080 and redo it. 00:13:04.080 --> 00:13:09.080 And there's no other avenue or no other source? 00:13:12.159 --> 00:13:17.159 The only other source would be is if some of the other taxes 00:13:17.200 --> 00:13:18.680 that the city gets. 00:13:18.680 --> 00:13:27.200 I am not an expert in this. Michelle would more be an expert in this, as if any of those funds can be given to the library. 00:13:28.360 --> 00:13:37.319 I know that their budget is very tight. That is not something that we have discussed or that we're really planning on doing. But to answer your question, 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:45.879 the tax levy is pretty much the only, it is the number one source of income for the library. 00:13:45.879 --> 00:13:58.000 We do our best with going out and getting grants. We also have support from our foundation, but our foundation doesn't even have enough money for us to operate for one year. 00:13:59.000 --> 00:14:13.980 And that budget includes expense for new books, new magazines. 00:14:13.980 --> 00:14:17.980 Correct. It includes all of those things. 00:14:19.980 --> 00:14:24.980 All of our new materials, all of our personnel and taking care of the building. 00:14:24.980 --> 00:14:36.000 of the Building, the programming as well. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:39.000 And the general public have no say so in this, ma'am? 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:43.079 The general public, it would go to a vote 00:14:43.079 --> 00:14:46.160 if we went above the 5%. 00:14:46.160 --> 00:14:48.740 So we don't ever go above the 5%. 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:51.360 There's two rules that we have to follow. 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:55.039 If you look at the top line where it says Library Corp, 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:58.079 and then there's a tax rate all the way to the right 00:14:58.079 --> 00:14:59.779 where it says, I don't know if you can read it, 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:04.779 it's pretty small, but it says 0.00345154. 00:15:05.899 --> 00:15:09.500 That has to be below 0.004, 00:15:09.500 --> 00:15:13.019 which we always keep that below 0.004. 00:15:14.139 --> 00:15:17.259 And then the other rule that we have to follow 00:15:17.259 --> 00:15:20.299 is the percent change from prior year, 00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:23.079 the total tax levy on the bottom, 00:15:23.079 --> 00:15:26.720 you'll see the highlighted where it's the total dollar amount 00:15:26.720 --> 00:15:28.180 and just to the right of that, 00:15:28.180 --> 00:15:30.779 you'll see the 4.94%. 00:15:30.779 --> 00:15:36.240 That cannot go over 5%. 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:39.860 So the two things that we are legally required to do 00:15:39.860 --> 00:15:40.860 are happening. 00:15:50.000 --> 00:15:52.240 If we went above 4.94, 00:15:52.240 --> 00:15:54.019 we would have to go to a referendum. 00:15:55.420 --> 00:16:01.289 And that's where the public vote would come in. 00:16:01.289 --> 00:16:02.529 So what if, 00:16:03.970 --> 00:16:04.809 Go ahead. 00:16:04.809 --> 00:16:13.960 What if this don't pass? 00:16:15.539 --> 00:16:17.079 If it doesn't pass the city, 00:16:17.079 --> 00:16:20.379 we have to go back and we would have to cut $52,000 00:16:20.379 --> 00:16:21.980 out of our budget and try to figure out 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:23.259 how to make that happen. 00:16:24.899 --> 00:16:27.620 We would do things like not spend the money 00:16:27.620 --> 00:16:29.059 for capital outlay. 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:42.230 We would do everything we can not to cut any of our services. 00:16:42.230 --> 00:16:45.309 That's what would happen. 00:16:45.309 --> 00:16:46.149 If we- 00:16:47.670 --> 00:16:48.789 Go ahead. 00:16:48.789 --> 00:16:49.629 Go ahead. 00:16:49.629 --> 00:16:56.809 if we did not spend the money, 00:16:56.809 --> 00:16:58.289 I mean, is there something wrong 00:16:58.289 --> 00:17:00.190 with the computers that we have? 00:17:01.970 --> 00:17:02.809 Yes. 00:17:04.769 --> 00:17:08.089 The tech grant that I'm talking about, 00:17:08.089 --> 00:17:10.430 we have to spend that by June, 2026, 00:17:10.430 --> 00:17:13.210 because that was awarded to us from the state of Illinois. 00:17:13.210 --> 00:17:15.210 So that $9,000 will get spent 00:17:15.210 --> 00:17:19.369 even if we don't pass this levy, if we change the levy. 00:17:19.369 --> 00:17:22.769 There are other things that we can do, 00:17:23.930 --> 00:17:27.210 looking at other opportunities that are out there, 00:17:27.210 --> 00:17:29.690 but that's not guaranteed funds at this point. 00:17:29.690 --> 00:17:31.329 It's still a grant process 00:17:31.329 --> 00:17:33.130 where we have to fill out an application 00:17:33.130 --> 00:17:34.450 and we have to wait until June 00:17:34.450 --> 00:17:36.889 to know whether or not we actually get the money. 00:17:38.369 --> 00:17:41.610 So did the library have a separate grant right here? 00:17:41.610 --> 00:17:45.720 Yeah, me. 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:48.779 I write the grants. 00:17:48.779 --> 00:17:50.220 Great. 00:17:50.220 --> 00:17:51.380 All of them Sellers. 00:17:51.380 --> 00:17:52.980 I'd just like to say that 00:17:52.980 --> 00:17:56.019 Right now, you know, my vote would be yes. 00:17:56.019 --> 00:17:59.579 All the great things that I heard this summer 00:17:59.579 --> 00:18:04.259 and the excitement that came out of the young lady 00:18:04.259 --> 00:18:06.460 that always comes and speaks, you know, 00:18:06.460 --> 00:18:09.539 all the great things that the library does for our children 00:18:09.539 --> 00:18:10.759 and that's our number one thing. 00:18:10.759 --> 00:18:14.360 We want to make sure our kids stay in a place 00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:17.500 where they can keep their minds and imaginations going. 00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:21.619 So $52,000, yeah, I'd like to have it. 00:18:21.619 --> 00:18:24.339 but I'm saying for the library right now, 00:18:24.339 --> 00:18:27.779 I think it's a no brainer, really, 00:18:27.779 --> 00:18:30.500 because we gotta keep our kids involved 00:18:30.500 --> 00:18:33.019 in the things that they do at the library 00:18:33.019 --> 00:18:35.639 and they're doing some great things at the library. 00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:39.099 So that's my vote, I know already, so. 00:18:40.099 --> 00:18:40.940 Thank you. 00:18:42.460 --> 00:18:48.200 I just wanna say that I think I was at the library 00:18:48.200 --> 00:18:51.920 every day this summer with my grandson 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:56.920 and I appreciate all the effort that goes forth in planning. 00:19:03.210 --> 00:19:10.420 But being a single person now and having to figure out 00:19:14.059 --> 00:19:20.950 so much more with one income concerns me. 00:19:21.470 --> 00:19:24.110 Yeah, and I understand that. 00:19:24.110 --> 00:19:26.450 I know that any vote that you make 00:19:26.450 --> 00:19:28.670 is not going to be necessarily 00:19:28.670 --> 00:19:30.309 that you don't support the library. 00:19:30.309 --> 00:19:54.309 Yes, yes, because I don't know that I can afford my taxes to go up, and if they go up anyway, will I have lights, or the water bill is ridiculous, running water? 00:19:54.309 --> 00:19:57.849 I think 00:19:57.849 --> 00:20:09.779 I think, I don't know, a five pound bag of sugar is now four pounds, and it's more than the five pound. 00:20:09.779 --> 00:20:13.779 Yeah. And I mean, that's also something that we're dealing with at the library. 00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:17.779 The cost of everything is going up for everything that we do as well. 00:20:17.779 --> 00:20:22.779 And I understand everything that you're saying, and I, you know, we feel it every day. 00:20:22.779 --> 00:20:52.779 Day. We see it in our invoices that we and that we are using and we're trying to be responsible. We cut back on our levy because we were levying too much money. It was just constantly going into our reserves. We spent that down. And so now we have to bring it back up to what it should be over the past from 2020 to 2025. There's actually been a decrease of 00:20:52.779 --> 00:21:02.140 15 dollars per house that's worth 100,000 dollars. And then this year we're asking for what would 00:21:02.140 --> 00:21:09.579 equate to potentially six dollar increase. Let's put that still at over six years a negative nine 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:19.579 dollars per 100,000 dollar home. But I hear you, you know, we work with a lot of strict income 00:21:19.579 --> 00:21:27.440 at the library. So, I hear you and I understand what you're saying, Cecelia. I mean Alderman 00:21:27.440 --> 00:21:33.079 Stacy. 00:21:33.079 --> 00:21:45.289 Thank you. And we go to item nine, the presentation of the city tax levy. Manager Boyer and Director 00:21:45.289 --> 00:21:49.250 Richter. 00:21:49.250 --> 00:21:53.289 Thank you, Mr. Chair. The city council has reviewed all the sections of the proposed 00:21:53.289 --> 00:22:02.410 We're now finally doing a lap here with the EAV. 00:22:02.410 --> 00:22:08.889 So we've received an estimate for 2025 equalized assessed value from the county. 00:22:08.889 --> 00:22:17.130 The EAV as our tax district has decreased by $105,000 over the last year. 00:22:17.130 --> 00:22:22.269 So based on this information, the city's corporate tax levy for 2025 paid in 26 would 00:22:52.269 --> 00:22:56.500 will recommend a change at this time. 00:22:56.500 --> 00:22:57.500 Any questions? 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:02.980 Just a reminder, elder person, Stacy, 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:04.480 would you lower your microphone 00:23:04.480 --> 00:23:05.980 if you're going to have a question? 00:23:05.980 --> 00:23:12.839 Thank you, sorry. 00:23:12.839 --> 00:23:13.680 Okay. 00:23:16.019 --> 00:23:20.779 We move to item 10, the summary discussion of any changes 00:23:20.779 --> 00:23:24.039 to the 2026 budget since the first presentation. 00:23:25.700 --> 00:23:28.579 Manager Boyer and Director Richter. 00:23:28.579 --> 00:23:34.380 Thank you, Mr. Chair. We had a number of changes, obviously. We got the EAV, which was a little 00:23:34.380 --> 00:23:43.019 bit lower. Those changes are now integrated in our revenue side. Also, we're seeking to 00:23:43.019 --> 00:23:50.740 use $1.3 million in fund reserves to pay for capital investments, such as replacing the 00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:57.059 salt shed, doing tuck pointing at City Hall, and upgrading or working on the city yards 00:24:28.529 --> 00:24:36.329 Reed of Increase. Let's go ahead and move down to the various funds. I want to 00:24:36.329 --> 00:24:40.490 start out with a City Clerk. We had a full-time employee to be shared between 00:24:40.490 --> 00:24:48.410 the Clerk, HR, and Finance. That position was removed. We also, so that was the 00:24:48.410 --> 00:24:53.230 primary change in the City Clerk's budget. City Manager Mayor, we made some 00:25:23.230 --> 00:25:39.960 We have a handful of other small changes within finance, but most of them just either minute or we reduced on the machinery and equipment as an example that was reduced. 00:25:39.960 --> 00:25:51.400 Under Government Buildings, we added $50,000 for repairs for the PED, and then we are adding 00:25:51.400 --> 00:25:59.480 the $800,000 for renovation of the salt sheds at Island, as well as $100,000 for the building 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.480 at Island. 00:26:00.480 --> 00:26:05.360 There's some problems that need to be remedied, so we're budgeting for that in the 26th budget. 00:26:05.360 --> 00:26:10.839 as well as improvements here at City Hall. We budgeted about $100,000 for tuck pointing. 00:26:10.839 --> 00:26:16.400 Originally, we had had a little bit more in the budget. A lot of the changes also reflect 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:24.039 the AFSCME wages and fringe change from the new contract. So those have been incorporated 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:30.240 in with the changes. And we also made some changes to the sidewalk reimbursement program. 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:35.599 we upped it slightly and we're going to also increase the funding for the sidewalk program 00:26:35.599 --> 00:26:39.920 per square foot. So we'll be doubling that. So we'll see how that goes. That will encourage 00:26:39.920 --> 00:26:50.039 people to replace their sidewalk. Moving on to, again, cemetery, we had adjustments 00:26:50.039 --> 00:26:55.779 to AFSCME wages and fringe there as well as forestry. We made some adjustments to the 00:26:55.779 --> 00:27:27.319 We're going to defer that at this point. Under community development, again, we incorporated the ASME wages, and we have included essentially the hiring of a grant writer with some of the savings that we will receive in past budgets, compared to what we're paying for the lobbyists. So we've removed the lobbyists, we've removed the lobbyists, we've removed the lobbyists, we've removed the lobbyists, we've removed the lobbyists, we've removed the lobbyists, we've removed the lobbyists. 00:27:27.319 --> 00:27:31.639 Lobbyist, and then we have added a grant writer to work in community development. 00:27:32.639 --> 00:27:37.599 And then also we've, MSA Engineering has done a lot of our grant work for that, for 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:42.799 that department. One of the jobs that this grant writer will do will assume some 00:27:42.799 --> 00:27:47.839 of the work that MSA has previously done. So we took the savings on that and put 00:27:47.839 --> 00:27:54.119 that toward a grant writer. But we did plan or reduced MSAs to about $40,000 so 00:27:54.119 --> 00:27:59.000 We can finish out the current grants that we have available or that are currently in 00:27:59.000 --> 00:28:00.480 the work. 00:28:00.480 --> 00:28:09.839 Police, again, updated with the AFSCME wages for the dispatchers and the records clerks. 00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:16.639 In addition, we've reduced the machinery and equipment to $35,000, and we removed a couple 00:28:16.639 --> 00:28:22.799 of speed signs and previously budgeted for awning that's been done already. 00:28:22.799 --> 00:28:28.659 In Fire, again, we've updated with payroll information, recent staff changes on Fire, 00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:31.019 so there's some changes there. 00:28:31.019 --> 00:28:37.599 Then under, just moving down, Building Department, Animal Control, those are the same with AFSCRE 00:28:37.599 --> 00:28:38.599 changes. 00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:43.599 Then we have Human Resources, so we had a full-time employee, again, the same one that 00:28:43.599 --> 00:28:46.240 we're going to share with HR and the Finance. 00:28:46.240 --> 00:28:49.679 We've removed that person, that position. 00:28:49.679 --> 00:28:54.679 In addition, IT has removed the summer help. We had a part-time person in for summer help 00:28:54.679 --> 00:29:04.400 for IT that's been taken out. Interdepartmental, we had a transfer of funds from Interdepartmental 00:29:04.400 --> 00:29:17.259 to, we'll get to it a little later, but essentially we transferred from general fund of $460,000 00:29:17.259 --> 00:29:20.259 Dickens, John, Michael, Brad and John, are all in the budget. 00:29:20.259 --> 00:29:24.700 And then we've reduced the main item of you can decrease the 00:29:24.700 --> 00:29:31.059 vehicle line item by 465,000. That just reflects the changes 00:29:31.059 --> 00:29:35.900 we made to the vehicles that we no longer plan to purchase. We 00:29:35.900 --> 00:29:38.700 had a couple of dump trucks that we deferred, we're going to 00:29:38.700 --> 00:29:42.820 order. We had three dump trucks, and we reduce that to one but 00:29:42.820 --> 00:29:49.000 we also kept the f5 50s and the other the other pickups that we 00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:56.000 just there. We had just the police donations. There's a restricted fund that's collected. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:30:01.920 there's a restricted fund that's collected for a speaker for the Freeport School District 145, 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:10.240 so that's there. We had a slight decrease in the grant amount at the Provincial City Transit, 00:30:10.240 --> 00:30:16.480 so we're continuing to track our expenses there and we're hoping to include a fixed route that 00:30:16.480 --> 00:30:20.200 that'll lower our total cost of operations. 00:30:25.470 --> 00:30:29.690 And I think we're getting down toward the end here. 00:30:29.690 --> 00:30:33.069 Going down to capital equipment funds, as I mentioned, 00:30:33.069 --> 00:30:34.730 we've made the appropriate adjustments, 00:30:34.730 --> 00:30:39.730 having removed two dump trucks from our plan to purchase. 00:30:40.990 --> 00:30:43.950 And police pension fund and fire pension funds, 00:30:45.230 --> 00:30:48.849 the police and pension or the police fund will meet Wednesday 00:30:48.849 --> 00:30:52.490 and then we'll finalize the pension budget then. 00:30:52.490 --> 00:30:53.690 And the same thing with the fire. 00:30:53.690 --> 00:30:56.529 We don't expect any real changes to that. 00:30:57.529 --> 00:31:00.490 And then on water, again, we made the adjustments 00:31:00.490 --> 00:31:03.890 for the new AFSCME contract. 00:31:03.890 --> 00:31:08.490 So that summarizes all of the changes we've made so far, 00:31:09.809 --> 00:31:13.250 mostly kind of reducing things and making sure 00:31:13.250 --> 00:31:15.089 that we're living within our means. 00:31:16.529 --> 00:31:18.529 This time, if you have any questions, 00:31:18.529 --> 00:31:31.809 I know you were talking about the changes in the community development. 00:31:31.809 --> 00:31:40.130 I just want to make sure that we still announce that we are still adding the nuisance person 00:31:40.130 --> 00:31:45.650 to help and we're adding a grant writer in those departments, correct? 00:31:45.650 --> 00:31:46.650 Yes. 00:31:46.650 --> 00:31:52.289 Oh, and then I'd like to know, what is the total, do we know the total amount that we 00:31:52.289 --> 00:31:59.970 are decreasing from all these things put together? Is there a total, you know, like? 00:31:59.970 --> 00:32:06.250 I think it was approximately $3 million. But there's a, she has, I think what Alderman 00:32:06.250 --> 00:32:10.650 Sellers is asking is, how much do we have to cut out of the budget? 00:32:10.650 --> 00:32:12.730 Yes. About $3 million? 00:32:12.730 --> 00:32:32.369 Well, that's not the total and complete. We moved some items into capital that are going to come from fund reserve, as I mentioned, the salt shed, the city hall duck pointing, the updates and construction at the city yards, and the PD and street department vehicles. 00:32:34.569 --> 00:32:44.089 One more question. I know you talked about the salt building or whatever. Are you going to give more information on why we are spending that much? 00:32:44.089 --> 00:32:49.610 for the salt so people can understand why we're putting that kind of money into that building. 00:32:50.250 --> 00:32:58.089 Absolutely. We have two salt sheds down at 1001 Island Avenue. They're a pole shed construction 00:32:58.889 --> 00:33:04.970 and they are very old and the salt has rotted away or contributed to the rotting away of all the posts 00:33:04.970 --> 00:33:10.809 so at this point the the sheds are starting to come apart and fall down. So this is important 00:33:10.809 --> 00:33:11.809 Martin. 00:33:11.809 --> 00:33:17.450 Because this is where we store our salt during winter when there's no removal operations. 00:33:17.450 --> 00:33:26.980 Oh, Stacy, yeah. 00:33:26.980 --> 00:33:32.019 Did I understand you to say that you have removed the lobbyists? 00:33:32.019 --> 00:33:33.019 Yes. 00:33:33.019 --> 00:33:39.639 Did he ever bring us anything? 00:33:39.639 --> 00:33:47.039 Well, the lobbyists did their, they had done a lot to make us aware of different grants 00:33:47.039 --> 00:33:54.440 and others, and things, but they had not necessarily contributed to anything that was outside of 00:33:54.440 --> 00:33:58.079 grants that we were already pursuing. 00:33:58.079 --> 00:34:04.799 So essentially, the reason we're not renewing their contract is performance-related. 00:34:04.799 --> 00:34:08.079 When he was hired, he was hired for how many years? 00:34:08.079 --> 00:34:11.559 It was just a 12-month contract. 00:34:11.559 --> 00:34:21.989 So he got that 70-whatever thousand. 00:34:21.989 --> 00:34:22.989 Anything else? 00:34:22.989 --> 00:35:00.480 I know I talked to Rob some about some of the overtime lines on here and I know he's working with that to try to decrease the overtime in some of those areas so I appreciate that and I would like to see that you know further than the days ahead I know there's sometimes when you can't help overtime but there are some ways maybe to cut some of that so I know that'll be worked on in the next year here. Okay and we go back to item 11 public comments 00:35:00.480 --> 00:35:18.210 Sands. Seeing none, I would take a motion for adjournment. So moved. Second. All in favor? Aye. Aye. And opposed? We are adjourned. And then we'll start up as soon as