ThisWeek CW 10/16/2014

http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2014/10/13/2015-budget-could-include-help-for-historical-society.html

Canal Winchester Finance Director Amanda Jackson presented a budget proposal for 2015 to city council Oct. 6 that includes an option for city staff to reallocate some funds without council approval and the potential for adding a line item to cover the historical society’s insurance and minimal maintenance costs related to its complex on North High Street.

General fund revenue

As presented, next year’s projected revenue in the general fund will be $6,227,750 compared to $6,115,250 for 2014. Budgeted expenditures are equal to the projected revenue.

Jackson explained that because Canal Winchester is now a city, council has the ability to approve the budget at a less specific level of control. For instance, she said, small transfers within the same funding structure don’t need to be approved after three readings by city council.

Councilman Rick Deeds pointed out that, at the Oct. 6 meeting, council approved the fifth appropriations amendment for the year.

“And each one came with multiple line items, so the new way would take care of that happening,” he said.

Based on current budget projections, Jackson said, the two largest expenses remain staff salaries and benefits and debt payments, both of which happen to each individually equal 21 percent of the proposed 2015 budget.

“Debt payments are expected to be 15 percent less than in 2014 because of reductions to our water and sewer debt,” Jackson said.

The 15 percent represents nearly a $488,000 savings, but she said she anticipates that money will be needed for future wastewater projects.

Historical society

As for the Canal Winchester Area Historical Society, it has in the past relied on bed-tax grants to cover such expenses as insurance premiums and maintenance costs. However, council approved changes to the application and awarding of the grants making only specific projects eligible for funding, not operational expenses.

“Mike Ippoliti called me, concerned about the historical society funding,” Councilwoman Bobbie Mershon said. “I can understand and I wonder if we need a line item for them because clearly, they don’t fit in with the bed tax grant now.

“They need money for their various bills and that’s now prohibited.”

Deeds agreed, saying he thinks the historical society may now be in a similar situation as Canal Winchester Human Services when it “got to the point it had to become a line item.”

Councilman Jim Wynkoop said he would work with the historical society to understand what funding needs it has and will return to council with a proposal. Law Director Gene Hollins said it might be possible to set aside money from bed tax revenues for the historical society line item, as is done for Destination: Canal Winchester.

Jackson said that at this point, the budget is still just in discussions, and won’t come to council for legislative consideration until the Nov. 3 finance committee meeting.

“You give me ideas and I’ll look at it, too,” she said. “If we’re going to do that, then we’re going to have to cut it from somewhere else so I need to know what type of dollar amount you’re looking at.”

“I don’t want to appropriate too much to the historical society if we’re squeezing this from other programs,” Deeds said.

Jackson said the budget must be approved by the first of the year.