MONROE - The Finance and Taxation Committee managed to preliminarily balance the city budget in a single meeting Monday, although it took them just under four hours.
Mayor Ron Marsh said he had been able to cut about $485,000 from the budget, when committee members were expected to need a reduction of about $475,000 to stay below the state-imposed 3 percent property tax levy increase limit.
Most of the reductions were done ahead of time by Marsh and City Treasurer/Comptroller Cathy Maurer, with department heads approving or tweaking line items.
Marsh began the committee's budget discussion by stating that health insurance benefits for city union workers would not change.
"It will all stay the same," he said about premiums and workers contributions.
Many of Marsh's recommended reductions were in the areas of operating, maintenance and office supplies, small amounts of about $1,000 to $5,000.
Over $18,000 incurred by the Department of Public Works for workers' hours and benefits, which the city has been picking up for stormwater work, was shifted to the stormwater utility.
Also, engineering costs of about $12,600 was removed and that work will now be charged to the stormwater utility and wastewater treatment plant.
The committee rejected the purchase of a dump truck costing about $125,000, scheduled for 2010, by the Street Department.
Contracted professional services were also reduced or cut across departments.
Marsh had entirely cut the funding of Green County Development Corporation (GCDC). The committee had reduced the $30,000 costs to $15,000 last year.
However, committee members argued for the return of GCDC to the budget, and eventually settled on the full $30,000. GCDC is funded in part by county communities, based on population.
Marsh said the residents of Monroe already paid in to GCDC by way of their county taxes, and were getting taxed twice for the organization's work and "not getting our money's worth." However, Alderman Keith Ingwell said other communities were also paying in twice.
Mike Sanders, President of GCDC Board, said it would be a "big mistake for the city as a leader in the county" to pull out of GCDC.
Both Alderman Charles Koch and Thurston Hanson said GCDC work was basically advertising, which the city needed.
The committee also replaced $8,000 for extra police help on Cheese Days, which the Mayor had taken out, saying he would like the Cheese Days Committee to find other communities willing to help with the expense.
Marsh also wanted a 2 percent raise for all department heads, which would total about $25,000, partly because their health insurance costs would be rising 2.5 percent. Department heads are non-union employees.
The committee also chose not to refill one position in the Street Department, left vacant by an employee who was hired to fill a vacancy at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. That cost savings is about $59,000.
Maurer will now take the most recent budget proposal back to the Finance and Taxation Committee after she has had a chance to review the reductions. The 2010 budget must still be approved by the committee and then by the Common Council.
Mayor Ron Marsh said he had been able to cut about $485,000 from the budget, when committee members were expected to need a reduction of about $475,000 to stay below the state-imposed 3 percent property tax levy increase limit.
Most of the reductions were done ahead of time by Marsh and City Treasurer/Comptroller Cathy Maurer, with department heads approving or tweaking line items.
Marsh began the committee's budget discussion by stating that health insurance benefits for city union workers would not change.
"It will all stay the same," he said about premiums and workers contributions.
Many of Marsh's recommended reductions were in the areas of operating, maintenance and office supplies, small amounts of about $1,000 to $5,000.
Over $18,000 incurred by the Department of Public Works for workers' hours and benefits, which the city has been picking up for stormwater work, was shifted to the stormwater utility.
Also, engineering costs of about $12,600 was removed and that work will now be charged to the stormwater utility and wastewater treatment plant.
The committee rejected the purchase of a dump truck costing about $125,000, scheduled for 2010, by the Street Department.
Contracted professional services were also reduced or cut across departments.
Marsh had entirely cut the funding of Green County Development Corporation (GCDC). The committee had reduced the $30,000 costs to $15,000 last year.
However, committee members argued for the return of GCDC to the budget, and eventually settled on the full $30,000. GCDC is funded in part by county communities, based on population.
Marsh said the residents of Monroe already paid in to GCDC by way of their county taxes, and were getting taxed twice for the organization's work and "not getting our money's worth." However, Alderman Keith Ingwell said other communities were also paying in twice.
Mike Sanders, President of GCDC Board, said it would be a "big mistake for the city as a leader in the county" to pull out of GCDC.
Both Alderman Charles Koch and Thurston Hanson said GCDC work was basically advertising, which the city needed.
The committee also replaced $8,000 for extra police help on Cheese Days, which the Mayor had taken out, saying he would like the Cheese Days Committee to find other communities willing to help with the expense.
Marsh also wanted a 2 percent raise for all department heads, which would total about $25,000, partly because their health insurance costs would be rising 2.5 percent. Department heads are non-union employees.
The committee also chose not to refill one position in the Street Department, left vacant by an employee who was hired to fill a vacancy at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. That cost savings is about $59,000.
Maurer will now take the most recent budget proposal back to the Finance and Taxation Committee after she has had a chance to review the reductions. The 2010 budget must still be approved by the committee and then by the Common Council.