City Budget Depends Upon State Payments
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Following a 25-minute budget hearing, the Pinckneyville City Council unanimously adopted the budget placed on file at the April 12 meeting.
The 2010 budget projects $2,340,700 in receipts plus $428,000 in cash on hand for a total of $2,768,700 in available funds. Expenditures of $2,658,540 leave a positive balance of $110,160.
"There is a lot of uncertainty about this budget," Mayor Joe Holder said. "It all depends on whether the state fulfills its obligations."
Holder explained that the city receives a portion of the state income tax for each citizen and a portion of the sales tax collected from businesses in the city. The state has discussed changing the portion of income tax distributed to municipalities.
The Mayor fielded questions about increased levies for pension funds, TIF and the city's cost for moving the gas line under Route 154 where the turn lane for the new hospital will go.
Holder said that the city has approximately $1.2 million in unrestricted funds. He explained that the various departments levy for a portion of their budgets. The remaining portion comes from the city's general fund.
Commissioner Augie Kellerman said the city is doing as well as can be expected financially. He compared the current payroll numbers with the numbers from 2005 and found that the overall payroll is up only $3,411. Both regular and overtime hours are down.
He added that the gas bill and bond payments were made this month. The bond account is funded and the bills approved were for $32,490.
Kellerman said the state paid $84,378 for the November utility bill at the prison. The state is now five months behind, owning $475,239.
In other business, the council:
placed on file for public inspection an agreement to move a natural gas pipeline that runs under Route 154. IDOT granted the city an easement for the gas line when utility lines were run in preparation for building the Pinckneyville Correctional Center. One landowner refused to grant an easement, therefore IDOT did. However, when IDOT grants an easement it is with the understanding that the city must pay to move the lines if construction work is done in the area. IDOT has agreed to build a turn lane at the intersection of Route 154 and White Walnut Road where the new Pinckneyville Community Hospital will be located. The total cost of moving the gas line is $127,800. Pinckneyville must pay 38 percent of the cost or $48,564. IDOT is paying the remaining 62 percent because those lines are located on private property and the city was granted the appropriate easements by the landowners.
authorized Commissioner David Stone to work with the Strategic Planning Committee, Chamber of Commerce and Pinckneyville Community High School to hire Junior and Senior students for summer work. Stone said he planned to hire a student to work two to four hours a day at the City Park. Mayor Joe Holder said he would like to hire a student to work in the Economic Development office. Summer workers would be paid minimum wage.
heard from Economic Development Coordinator Carrie Ford that the Pinckneyville Farmer's Market is moving to the parking lot of the Trinity Assembly of God church on Main Street. Pastor Paul Ritter is the new manager of the Farmer's Market. The new location will alleviate parking problems and allow for longer hours. The Farmer's Market will be held on Tuesdays beginning May 11 from 3 to 6 p.m.
heard from for that the community clean-up day has been set for June 12.
heard from Commissioner Sam Fulk that work crews will begin putting blacktop on Grant and East Streets this week. The projects were paid for with federal stimulus funds.
approved the 2010 Motor Fuel Tax Program. Commissioner Fulk has set a MFT budget of $177,000 for maintenance.
approved a grant agreement for the Fire Department to receive a $24,000 small equipment grant from the State Fire Marshall. The funds will be used to purchase five new self contained breathing packs.
heard from Mayor Holder that the railroad has received the city's request to repair the crossing on Route 154 near Casey's General Store. No date has been set for the repairs.
placed on file for public inspection a resolution approving a Swimming Pool Management/Service Agreement between the city and Amanda Hepp. The contract will be the same as last year's.
placed on file for public inspection an agreement between the city and Harold Palmer for administration of the DCEO grant for the Illinois Rural Heritage Museum and Illinois High School Basketball Hall of Fame for $5,000.