Highland city budget for next year tentatively set at $48.3 million
The Highland City Council will vote on a $48.3 million budget later this month.
The council voted Monday to put the proposed budget on public display and will vote to accept it at its meeting on April 18, after a public hearing where citizens can weigh in on the spending plan.
Next year’s budget is a 2 percent increase over last year’s and presents with a $2 million deficit.
The red is mainly due to the installation of a new clarifier at the water treatment plant, will be paid for entirely with reserve funds. The project was planned for the current fiscal year, but will now not be completed until the upcoming year. The city also continues to incur cost as it builds out its fiber-to-the-home system to all city residents.
Revenues continue to exceed expenses. However, operations and maintenance expenses are expected to increase 5 percent next year, while revenues are projected to decrease 1 percent. The falling revenue is due to final reimbursements from various agencies for street projects having been paid and conservative estimates on funding from the state of Illinois.
Property taxes collected will continue to increase, despite lower assessed valuation. The city has budgeted for a 1 percent increase in property taxes, for a total of $4.17 million.
Sales tax estimated for next year is $2.45 million, which would be a 2 percent increase.
For a more detailed look at the city’s proposed budget, see next week’s News Leader.
K&L awarded water treatment plant bid
Korte & Luitjohan Contractors (K&L) in Highland was awarded at $1.26 million bid to install the aforementioned clarifier at the water treatment plant. The current clarifier has been operating continually since 1993.
Bids to be sought to bore water main connections for park
The council approved seeking bids to do two directional bores in order to connect the new Dennis Rinderer Park to an existing water main. There is an existing water main on the west side of Veterans Honor Parkway that extends from Michael Road to the park. The project being bid would be to do two directional bores under the road, one 10-inch diameter pipe near the intersection with Michael Road and a 6-inch diameter pipe under Veterans Honor Parkway easterly into the park. City crews will make all the connections was the new pipes are in place. The new mains will serve restroom facilities and features in the dog park.
Agreement OKed for path along Troxler
An agreement with the Illinois Department of Transportation was approved in order to construct a 10-foot-wide shared-use path along the south side of Troxler Avenue from Illinois Route143 to Illinois Route 160. The total estimated project cost is $570,000. The city has already received funding through the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program for the project (maximum $341,428). The city will pay $113,572 for its share of the project (assuming bids come back as estimated). Madison County will chip in $115,000.
Speedway schedule approved
The council approved this year’s racing schedule for the Highland Speedway. A copy of the schedule can be found attached to this story on the News Leader website, highlandnl.com.
Streets closure approved for Schweizerfest
The council approved necessary street closures for this year’s Schweizerfest and parades. The Schweizerfest, Highland’s annual homecoming, is hosted by the Jaycees and will be held on June 10-12 this year. Parades will be held at 5 p.m. on both Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12. Broadway from Laurel to Washington will be closed from 9 a.m. on Friday, June until 5 a.m. on Monday, June 13 for the festival. Broadway from Spindler Lane to Cypress Street will need to be close to accommodate the parades. Special resolutions are required for closing Broadway, because it is part of a state highway. Such action is not needed to close other side streets wholly owned by the city.
This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 8:13 AM with the headline "Highland city budget for next year tentatively set at $48.3 million."