(April 21, 2016) Berlin presented a balanced $3.5 million draft of its fiscal year 2017 general fund budget during a public meeting at Town Hall on Monday.
The proposal included $40,000 for a new contractual position to manage development at Berlin Falls park, as well as $17,000 for three temporary seasonal employees to work there.
More than $1.3 million in capital outlays for new police projects were outlined, largely reflecting the building of a new police station, and a $66,000 request for two Ford Interceptors to replace older models.
Economic Development Director Ivy Wells asked for $14,200 towards the trade-in of her town vehicle, as well as $22,000 to improve the exterior of the visitor’s center on Main Street. If the town approves that project, Wells said $11,000 would come back in the form of façade grants.
Public works requested $89,000 in capital expenses, including $55,000 for a replacement vehicle.
Other significant capital projects were $210,000 for streets and sidewalks, $25,000 to help develop architectural design standards, $16,300 to revamp the audio and video system in the main meeting room at Town Hall, and $10,000 to replace equipment related to the town’s public access TV station.
Health care costs to the town were projected to increase 5.48 percent, according Managing Director Jeff Fleetwood and Chris Caroll of Atlantic/Smith, Cropper & Deeley, and Town Administrator Laura Allen recommended the town not increase its annual contributions to nonprofits.
Last year, Allen said the town gave $35,000 to nonprofits, including $10,000 to Atlantic General Hospital, $7,500 to Diakonia and the Worcester County Development Center, and $5,000 for the Cricket Center. She advised the same grants this year.
One item that caught the eye of at least two councilmembers was the $58,000 allocated for credit card fees, tied to online payment of town services, including utility bills.
“I don’t know if I agree with passing that cost onto taxpayers,” Councilmember Dean Burrell said. “It’s like a convenience fee. If you’re going to pay with a credit card, I think that cost ought to be yours, because there’s nothing stopping you from coming up here [and] paying your bill across the counter.”
Councilmember Thom Gulyas agreed, saying the town, by absorbing costs, was essentially passing the fees onto the taxpayers.
Finance Director Natalie Saleh said Berlin currently pays for all online transaction costs, including $46,000 budgeted during the previous fiscal year. She recommended the town continue to pay for credit card fees related to “essential services,” including electric and other utility bills, while making consumers pay for other credit card fees, including obtaining permits online.
“If we’re going to do it, it has to be everything or nothing,” Mayor Gee Williams said.
The mayor and council, and town staff, will meet again on May 2, to discuss the utilities fund portion of the budget draft.
The proposal included $40,000 for a new contractual position to manage development at Berlin Falls park, as well as $17,000 for three temporary seasonal employees to work there.
More than $1.3 million in capital outlays for new police projects were outlined, largely reflecting the building of a new police station, and a $66,000 request for two Ford Interceptors to replace older models.
Economic Development Director Ivy Wells asked for $14,200 towards the trade-in of her town vehicle, as well as $22,000 to improve the exterior of the visitor’s center on Main Street. If the town approves that project, Wells said $11,000 would come back in the form of façade grants.
Public works requested $89,000 in capital expenses, including $55,000 for a replacement vehicle.
Other significant capital projects were $210,000 for streets and sidewalks, $25,000 to help develop architectural design standards, $16,300 to revamp the audio and video system in the main meeting room at Town Hall, and $10,000 to replace equipment related to the town’s public access TV station.
Health care costs to the town were projected to increase 5.48 percent, according Managing Director Jeff Fleetwood and Chris Caroll of Atlantic/Smith, Cropper & Deeley, and Town Administrator Laura Allen recommended the town not increase its annual contributions to nonprofits.
Last year, Allen said the town gave $35,000 to nonprofits, including $10,000 to Atlantic General Hospital, $7,500 to Diakonia and the Worcester County Development Center, and $5,000 for the Cricket Center. She advised the same grants this year.
One item that caught the eye of at least two councilmembers was the $58,000 allocated for credit card fees, tied to online payment of town services, including utility bills.
“I don’t know if I agree with passing that cost onto taxpayers,” Councilmember Dean Burrell said. “It’s like a convenience fee. If you’re going to pay with a credit card, I think that cost ought to be yours, because there’s nothing stopping you from coming up here [and] paying your bill across the counter.”
Councilmember Thom Gulyas agreed, saying the town, by absorbing costs, was essentially passing the fees onto the taxpayers.
Finance Director Natalie Saleh said Berlin currently pays for all online transaction costs, including $46,000 budgeted during the previous fiscal year. She recommended the town continue to pay for credit card fees related to “essential services,” including electric and other utility bills, while making consumers pay for other credit card fees, including obtaining permits online.
“If we’re going to do it, it has to be everything or nothing,” Mayor Gee Williams said.
The mayor and council, and town staff, will meet again on May 2, to discuss the utilities fund portion of the budget draft.