Village of Constantine
Budget Workshop
February 27, 2010
9:00AM

The Saturday, February 27, 2010 Budget Work Session began at 9:05AM in the Village Hall. In attendance: Trustees Brown, Brewer, Harder, LaFluer and Mathers, and President Weiss, Manager Honeysett, Treasurer Strawser and Clerk Strawser. Absent: Trustee Moore.

Manager Honeysett led the discussion on how to compensate for the loss of Rexam revenues (taxes) expected be approximately $26,000 in 2010 and $180,000 in 2011 as well as cuts in Revenue Sharing (information from the State website) and other possible deficits due the economy. Manager Honeysett suggested raising the millage to the maximum 12 mils, restricting or discontinuing services and celebrations, and laying off workers based on seniority.

Treasurer Strawser said the Village was top heavy and suggested revisiting all employee agreements, including those of management since no comparable adjustments have been made despite position and job responsibility changes. Manager Honeysett disagreed, saying he was still averaging 50-60 work hours per week despite the appointment of a separate Police Chief and DDA Director. Trustee Harder agreed, saying you need to pay well to attract good people. Clerk Strawser said that the MML and MAMC job/pay comparison tables could be a useful tool in such a discussion. Treasurer Strawser stressed the need to discern want versus need, and that the first concern should always be meeting existing obligations. Manager Honeysett said a new Salt & Sand shed needed to be raised this year; Trustee LaFluer suggested using the building trades students to help with the construction.

Trustees suggested raising the millage to the maximum allowed is premature and that every expenditure and measure needs to be considered including health insurance, job restructuring, services, conferences, memberships and travel, police, fire, DPW and office budgets, non-replacement of employees lost to attrition, etc. Trustee LaFluer asked for an Overtime and Comp-Time report for the last year and a list of contract versus non-contract workers. Trustee Brown asked to see actual dollar amounts for the suggested cuts and tax increases.

Manager Honeysett repeated his belief that the various economic development agencies he has spoken to will help to move a new business in the Rexam building in a reasonable amount of time.

Manager Honeysett said he would begin talking with department heads re: budget savings on Monday.

Trustees agreed to schedule another Budget Workshop for Monday, March 8, 2010 at 7:00PM at the Village Hall.

Budget Work Session ended at 10:30AM.

Ruth Strawser
Village Clerk