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03/17/10: Minutes - March 17, 2010 - Budget Workshop
The Hillcrest Village Board of Trustees met in special session Wednesday, March
17, 2010 for a Budget Workshop, at the Hillcrest Village Hall. Village
President, Rich Hicks, called the meeting to order at 7:03 p.m. Answering the
roll call were Trustees Jim Mecklenburg, Rich Elliott, Jim McMullin, Trevor
Unger and Vicki Stewart. Trustee Randal Salsbury was absent due to a prior
commitment.
President Hicks asked Trustee Mecklenburg to explain the
packet of information that was presented to them. Trustee Mecklenburg stated the
first item in your packet is the current treasurer’s report all balances are as
of the end of February 28, 2010; the general fund has a balance of $201,000.19;
motor fuel tax fund has a balance of $123,049.86 and the water fund has a
balance of $50,144.72.
Trustee Mecklenburg stated these reports are tools
that we will all need to review our department’s budget and understand where the
Village stands monetarily at this point in the fiscal year. Trustee Mecklenburg
stated the next item he would like to review are two outstanding invoices that
are going to require the Board’s attention and some action in the near
future.
Trustee Mecklenburg stated the next item in your packets is a
spreadsheet that lists the top eight revenue streams these represent the
Village’s main source of income; as you can see our revenues are declining and
next fiscal year is expected to be worse. Trustee Mecklenburg stated that sales
tax is based on spending and people just don’t have discretionary money to spend
in this economy; people are losing their jobs, their hours are being cut and our
sales tax revenue is decreasing accordingly. Trustee Mecklenburg stated that
income tax is tied into jobs; people are out of work, hours are being cut and
our income tax revenue is also decreasing. Trustee Mecklenburg stated to make
matters worse Governor Quinn is proposing a decrease in income tax that would
roughly amount to a $28,000 reduction in revenue for the Village. Trustee
Mecklenburg stated that homes are in foreclosure and the Village doesn’t receive
the property taxes from those homes until the foreclosure is settled. Trustee
Mecklenburg stated that Village revenues are down approximately $100,000 from
last year’s budget.
Trustee Salsbury joined the Board of Trustees at 7:18
p.m.
Trustee Mecklenburg stated the only reason the Village has managed
to stay within its budget is because our expenses are down due to the fact that
the Village has gone without a treasurer since the end of August; the Village
has gone without a police officer since the end of November and our maintenance
personnel are working a reduced work week. Trustee Mecklenburg stated that the
water department is self-sustaining with the exception of the Baxter &
Woodman Consulting Engineers bill.
Trustee Mecklenburg stated that
everyone needs to look for ways to reduce expenses and he suggested that the
Trustees analyze their budgets and keep a list of proposed cuts that can be
discussed at the next budget meeting. Trustee Mecklenburg also suggested that
the Trustees make appointments with him to go over their budgets or any
information that needs further explanation. President Hicks told the Board of
Trustees to go home sharpen their pencils and do their homework. Trustee
Mecklenburg asked the Trustees not to wait until the next budget workshop to ask
their questions; please come prepared to work.
PUBLIC COMMENT
No
public comment at this time.
There being no further business to transact,
a motion to adjourn was made by Trustee Stewart; Trustee Elliott seconded the
motion. Vote was as follows: Mecklenburg – yes, Elliott – yes, Salsbury – yes,
McMullin – yes, Unger – yes and Stewart – yes. The vote passed unanimously. The
workshop adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa J.
Adams,
Village Clerk
Posted: 3/17/2010 |
Updated: 3/17/2010