The Culver Town Council members held a public hearing Tuesday night to discuss the 2021 budget.
Prior to the public hearing, Clerk-Treasurer Karen Heim alerted the council members to a few adjustments. She explained that the purchase of a backhoe planned for 2021 will be reduced from the budget as it will be purchased this year at a greatly reduced cost. An additional appropriation in the amount of $84,526 will be presented for the purchase in this year’s budget. It will free up about $100,000 spread out over two funds in 2021.
Additional appropriations will also be done in the amount of $138,000 for the COVID-19 small business relief program, $85,000 for OCRA stellar projects, $25,000 for the EMS Department, and $60,000 for the fire truck. Heim explained that all of these items were previously discussed. There is money for the list given, but permission must be given before the money is appropriated.
Heim said she wanted the council to know those changes prior to the budget hearing, as well as some reductions in the 2021 budget and a higher estimate of the local income tax revenue projections. She said the budget will be in the black next year.
In the public hearing, Heim noted that with the changes the General Fund budget will be $2,175,798 which includes the Clerk’s budget, Police Department, Fire Department, EMS, and Street Department. Other funds include the Park Department, MVH, Local Roads and Streets, Cumulative Capital Development, Riverboat and grant funds. The town’s income is estimated a little higher than the budget. The total advertised for all funds is $4,012,632.
There were no comments from the public on the budget.
The council members approved the first reading of the budget ordinance with a unanimous vote.
