2010 city budget gets first review

Budget includes

wage freeze

By BECKY BROOKS

Enterprise Editor

clydenews@bizwoh.rr.com

The Clyde City Council gave a first reading to its Fiscal Year 2010 budget on Tuesday night, which will fell just short of $42.5 million, with over half of its funds earmarked for the operation of Clyde Light & Power and its technology department.

The total general fund appropriations are slated to be $4,465,611 for FY 2010.

"I think this ordinance will reflect the amendments made at the budget meeting," City Manager Dan Weaver said told council. "As part of this there are no (employee) pay increases for 2010, and I still have to meet with the unions and get concessions for next year."

Weaver added that as part of the city wage freeze, employees would have to pick up any increase for health coverage.

Councilwoman Carolyn Farrar asked the finance director, "With the budget changes we worked on at that session, are you confident in the budget before you?"

City Finance Director Christine May responded, "As confident as I can be if the economy does not get worse."

Later in the meeting May reported the city was still down nearly $580,000 or 17 percent for FY 2009 revenues as of October.

Also on Tuesday night, the council passed a resolution to keep funds raised through a kilowatt-hours tax already paid by Clyde Light & Power customers in the city's general funds for FY 2010. The funds would raise $250,000 for the general fund. Without the resolution, the tax funds would go back into the city's electric fund. This is a transfer of funds within the city, which is allowed by state law, officials reported.

"Most cities keep it in their general fund," Weaver commented, noting that Clyde has been unusual in that it had been returning the tax to the electric fund.

The council also approved as an emergency measure for a land swap between the city and the Rathbun Family Real Estate Group. The Rathbuns own 6.4609 acres that adjoin Revere Plastics on Elm Street, which needs property to expand its plant.

The city will trade a 6.46 acres plot that it owns on Premier Drive for the Rathbun property, and then the city will sell 5 acres of the original Rathbun property for $10,000 per acre to Revere Plastics.

"The Rathbuns don't want to sell the land, but they will swap the land for city property," the city manager explained. "The Rathbuns will still own 6 acres of land in Clyde." He added there will be no money involved in the land swap with Rathbuns.

On Tuesday, council also approved a Supplemental Zoning Regulation adding new regulations on wind turbines/wind energy systems within the city limits.

Under resolutions, the council approved participating in the All-Hazard Mitigation Plan Update by the Sandusky County committee. By participating, the city would be eligible to apply for pre-disaster mitigation funds and participate in updating the county's hazard mitigation plan for natural disasters.

Council also approved a resolution to purchase and award contracts for chemicals and supplies for the city for 2010 including chlorine, Diesel Fuel, gasoline, Hydrated Lime, Liquid Ferric Chlorine, alum and soda ash.