City of Princeton Council met March 19.
Here is the minutes provided by the Council:
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Quiram. Upon roll call, the following answered present, constituting a quorum: Council Members Swanson, Mabry, Favia, and Neumann.
Mayor Quiram turned the meeting over to City Manager Rachel Skaggs. She began reviewing the challenges in construction of the budget; among them was reduced revenue from the state of Illinois. She mentioned that online retail sales have had an effect on reduction on sales tax receipts. In addition, she illustrated the non-fulfillment or reduction of departmental requests for capital expenditures. The department managers offered their justifications for their requests and educated the council on the priorities for equipment upgrades, replacements, repairs, and maintenance.
Skaggs continued with a review of the annual road program, but emphasized that the budget top was proposed to cap at about $350,000. Because funds are low, it was determined to delay the second lift of asphalt on the Pleasant St. parking lot and delay the sealing of the Marion St. parking lot. Mayor Quiram mentioned the possibility to seek an infrastructure referendum in November if the jail sales tax referendum fails at the polls on March 20h. Mabry asked about the Safe-Route-to-Schools improvements, to which Skaggs confirmed that the added state mandates for implementing such a plan have become prohibitive. Also, the Euclid Avenue re-build project has been further delayed because of denial of it by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.
She continued with highlighting the water and waste water needs and the prioritization that took place to pare the budget within revenue projections. Accordingly, some of the requests for the department have been tabled for the new fiscal year.
Favia asked about line-item increases in payroll in several areas. Skaggs explained that the increases are from the discontinuance of contract work and replacing that labor with in-house labor, as well as corrections in reporting expenditures in the departments where they actually occur.
Skaggs continued with a review of debt levels and the budget plans that will reduce the overall city debt. She also answered questions on year-over-year swings in expenditures, both positive and negative. Much of these swings are a result of improved processes that are cost effective, as well as benefiting from better accounting discipline. Each year the city has tightened the financial accounting practices and implemented advice from auditors and hired accountants. This is making the city ledgers more manageable and credible.
Motion # 1: Neumann (2d Favia) that the Special Meeting adjourn to the Regular Meeting on March 19, 2018, 7:00 p.m. at City Hall.
Vote #1
Roll Call Vote: Council Members Swanson, Mabry, Favia, Neumann, and Mayor Quiram voted Aye. Motion was declared carried. Adjournment at 6:55 p.m.
https://www.princeton-il.com/meeting-minutes/534/city-council/03-19-2018-special/
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