City council reviews more budgets

NORWALK — City council Tuesday night reviewed 2024 bugets for three different departments. Budgets reviewed were for the park and recreation department, the sanitation department and the wastewater/sewer department. Here are the budget highlights for the park and rec department: Park, Recreation and Acquatic revenue is estimated at $1,819,842 which is a decrease of about 1% from estimated revenue for 2023. The subsidy from the General Fund has been decreased from $325,000 in 2023 to $300,000 and a local grant is not anticipated next year that contributed in 2023 to the painting of the pool area. The budget reflects expenditures in the amount of $1,939,450. The estimated revenue compared to expenditures reflects expenditures exceeding revenue by $119,608. The estimated year end cash balance is $400,000. The Park, Recreation and Aquatic Fund budget includes $47,200 in capital expenditures which includes the Park Fund share of General Services equipment. Here are the budget highlights for the Sanitation Fund: The Sanitation budget is $1,626,660 compared to $1,631,465 for 2023. Anticipated revenue for 2024 has been increased $100,000 to $1,707,300 from the 2023 estimate of $1,607,300. This includes the 4% increase over the projected collections for 2023 as with the General Fund and General Capital Improvement Fund estimated income tax revenue. Here are the budget highlights for the Wastewater/Sewer Fund: Capital equipment expenditures for the Sewer Fund share of General Services is $75,965. Sewer lining project budgeted at $80,000 along with $80,000 budgeted in the Storm Water Fund. Engineering has been underway for the EPA mandated Combined Sewer Overflow project on Washington Street and Cline Street that is scheduled to begin in 2024 as well as updates to the Wastewater Treatment Plant. The most recent estimate is $20 million grand total for both. The city was awarded a $5 million grant from the State of Ohio for the overflow project. The balance of these projects would be funded with a low interest loan from the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund through the Ohio Water Development Authority which has been utilized in the past for such projects as the Pleasant Street CSO Project. The budget reflects $5 million for the Washington Street CSO project with the projected revenue including the $5 million grant. This amount will not be the total amount of the project as the remaining amount will need to be appropriated after bids are received andapproved by the OEPA. The remainder of the project will be included with the loan that will be needed for the improvements at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Sewer rates are projected to remain the same at $1.20 per hundred gallons at this time. In other business, Norwalk safety-service director Mike White told council the city is currently interviewing 13 candidates for four open police officer positions. He said he is hopeful that the department will soon be fully staffed.