Presque Isle City Council gets first look at 2008 budget

By Kathy McCarty  
Staff Writer
    PRESQUE ISLE – Discussion has begun on the 2008 Municipal Budget, with City Council holding several workshops to review the material included in the proposed document.     “The city’s charter requires the manager provide a budget prior to the end of the fiscal year. Workshops are usually held between October and November, in preparation of two public hearings, per charter requirements,” said City Manager Tom Stevens, as he presented an overview of the budget process to councilors.
    Stevens told councilors at the first workshop, held Oct. 17, that the draft budget before them would eventually become the City Council’s final budget.
    “It’s a fluid project,” said Stevens.
    The city’s net budget for 2008 has been tentatively set at just over $6 million, up approximately $224,000 from last year’s total of $5,815,525. Stevens told councilors the budget – as with budgets in years past – had a bit of room for changes, should Council deem such are necessary.
    While some expenses for the city can be determined, Stevens indicated other areas might fluctuate because of market changes.
    “Budget assumptions subject to change include fuel costs, health insurance, salaries and related benefits,” Stevens said.
    The Council will use the workshops to review the various departments’ budgets, with department heads present to answer questions and provide input on their departments’ needs and requirements. Councilors chose to not entertain any new requests from outside sources, preferring to go with organizations who received assistance under the 2007 budget.
    So far, councilors have discussed the following sections of the budget:
•  Revenues, Finance, Debt Service, Reserve Report, Capital Reserve Balances, Exchange Report, Special Revenues, Restricted Reserves and Trust Funds;
• Airport, Airport Reserve and Federal Aviation Reserve;
• Planning and Development, Echo Lake Sewer Project and Echo Lake Reserve;
• Fire Department and Fire Reserve;
• Forum and Forum Reserve;
• Library and Library Reserve;
• Unclassified; and
• Outside Requests.
    “Council basically is seeing funding of each of the outside requests as they were funded in 2007. The Council’s direction was clear – fund at same level as 2007,” said Stevens. “I’ve included one as a new request for the city’s sesquicentennial.”
    Stevens indicated although the event wouldn’t take place until 2009, it was necessary to have funds available in 2008 to cover advertising expenses.
    “It’s just a publicity factor leading up to the event,” said Stevens.
    Councilors will be meeting Oct. 24 at 5 p.m. at City Hall for yet another budget workshop. This session will include the following budget topics:
• Police Department, Police Reserve and Public Safety Building;
• Public Works Department, Public Works Reserve; 2008 Proposed Paving Projects; Street overlay and utilities;
• Recreation and Parks, Recreation and Parks Reserve; and
• Resource Management, Employee Benefits and Expenses, and Insurance.
    For more information on the meetings or the budget, contact 764-4485.
    City Council will hold its next regular session on Nov. 5 at City Hall at 6 p.m. The public is welcome and encouraged to participate.