2013 budget reflects signs of economic recovery

ThisWeek CW 06/14/2012

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2012/06/12/2013-budget-reflects-signs-of-economic-recovery.html

Canal Winchester City Council is expected to vote July 2 on a 2013 budget that differs little from 2012.

Finance Director Nanisa Osborn presented city council with the 2013 budget at its June 4 meeting for a first reading.

“In this budget, mostly what you see is the 2013 spending is very close to the 2012,” Osborn said. “I’m forecasting a slight increase in income tax revenue for 2013.”

According to city documents, the overall 2012 budget is for $13.2 million, while the overall 2013 forecast is for $13.3 million, an increase of $100,778.

Of those amounts, the 2012 general fund revenue was $5,845,350 and expenditures, including a carryover of some purchase orders from 2011, are listed at $6,129,350. Osborn said money is available from the 2011 budget to cover those purchase orders.

The 2013 general fund revenue is anticipated to be $6,068,650 while expenses are expected to be $6,067,348.

“Obviously, we’re still seeing the effects of a negative economy; however, we’re also seeing signs of coming out of it,” Osborn said. “We’re seeing once again that temp agencies are adding several employees to businesses here again. That’s an indicator for me that things are changing.”

The budget includes the addition of two new positions, an administrative assistant in the mayor’s office and another street department employee whose primary duties will include park maintenance.

“The administrative assistant will provide clerical support to the mayor and me, and they’ll deal with people who walk in the door and (they will) answer phones,” Osborn said. “Our organization currently has a lot of people who are very good at their jobs but have to spend time passing documents around and proofreading for each other. That’s not a good use of our time.”

According to a staffing and salary analysis document, the salary and benefits package for the administrative assistant and the new street department worker is $57,031 each.

Other spending increases will include an estimated 3-percent raise in staff pay, a 10-percent health care increase, an additional $400,000 spent on the Tank Town street and water line project, a $25,000 increase in the sidewalk and alley fund and a $50,000 increase in technology upgrades.

“One thing we have to deal with is that Microsoft will no longer support Windows XP as of October 2012,” Osborn said. “We currently have 20 systems that are still using XP, so we have to do a lot of updates to keep everybody operating.

“The big project next year is, of course, Tank Town, and that will include the combo grant and loan from the Ohio Public Works Commission.”

Osborn said the city currently has an AA- credit rating because revenue is primarily tied to a single source, the income tax. She said she believes with continued business diversification, it could be possible to receive a AAA credit rating from the underwriters.

“That’s a few years off, but it’s a work in progress,” she said. “One of the goals the underwriters asked us to achieve is maintaining a 30- to 35-percent carryover, which is set aside for our rainy day fund.”

The next scheduled city council meeting will start at 7 p.m. Monday, June 18, at Town Hall, 10 N. High St.