Tilton approves 2010 budget

BY KIM LUTTRELL

TILTON April 16, 2009 10:22 pm

— The village board approved the budget ordinance for fiscal year 2010 which begins May 1 Thursday night.
The budget approved is the first line-item budget ever produced by the village. Mayor David Phillips said the new budget form was necessary to better track village expenses as well as to provide information to the different government agencies the village deals with.
The new budget shows the village beginning the fiscal year with a little over $4 million in reserves; however $3.6 million of those reserves are earmarked for the completion of the 14th Street overpass project.
Estimated revenues are listed at $2.6 million and estimated expenses are listed at $6.3 million, which includes the $3.6 million payout for the 14th Street project.
The village estimates it will end the next fiscal year with a $326,000 surplus.
As a result of switching to the new line-item budget which will all be computer oriented, the board approved the appointment of Tiffany Jones as assistant village administrator. She will handle those duties as well as remaining as village treasurer.
Jones will be responsible for day-to-day management of village finances, as well as assisting the police department in filing police-related paperwork.
Jones’ salary will be determined later.
In other board action, trustees:
-- Approved the purchase of a Streetscape lighted sign to be placed at the entrance to Southgate Plaza from Marsters Sign Company of Danville for $20,041. The sign will list all of the businesses located in Southgate Plaza.
-- Approved the purchase of computer software for the ambulance service from EDMIS of Indianapolis for $2,988. The software is needed to bill Medicare for emergency services.
-- Approved a resolution to apply for a Community Development Assistance Program grant through the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. The grant will be used to pay for design work on the 13th Street and 14th Street sanitary sewer project.
-- Learned that the 14th Street overpass project is scheduled to be completed May 29. The portions of the project that are currently open will be closed on May 4 for two weeks to allow for crews to finish seeding the slopes and to seal the concrete surfaces.
-- Set the date for the villagewide rummage sale for May 23 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants must register and pay a $5 fee at the village office before May 20 to be included on the map.
-- Approved a 3 percent increase for full-time village employees and a 25 cents per hour increase for part-time village employees.
-- Approved a contract with S & N Fireworks of Lincoln to provide a fireworks display for July 26 at the conclusion of the Redneck Games for a cost of $5,600.
-- Set an economic development committee meeting for 6 p.m. Tuesday.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Tilton Village Board will reconvene at 6 p.m. April 30 in the Tilton Municipal Building to swear in new officers.