MONROE - The city's Finance and Taxation Committee restored funding for Green County Development Corporation and Main Street Monroe back to their full requested levels in the 2012 budget Monday.
Committee members had lowered the requested amounts in previous budget meetings this fall in an effort to meet a zero increase in the city tax levy for 2012 compared to 2011.
But the new levels passed by a narrow 2-to-1 margin.
The move to add about $29,000 to the entities' funding was achieved by reducing the street construction budget by the same amount.
Both entities made a second presentation to the committee Monday, after their funding amounts were poised to be reduced next year.
Green County Development Corporation requested $28,670, down slightly from the city's budgeted $30,000 in 2011. The committee had allocated $14,500.
Speaking in support of GCDC were Rep. Janis Ringhand, (D-Evansville) and Mike Sanders, CEO of Monroe Clinic and former GCDC board chairman.
A member of the state legislative Committee on Rural Economic Development and Rural Affairs, Ringhand said county-level economic development corporations are "on the front line" to capture investors' interest in their communities.
"Making initial contact will be the impetus when these people start making decisions to expand or relocate," she added.
Sanders noted increased economic development efforts in Dane County and in nearby Illinois counties. Not funding GCDC to its full amount is "in essence de-leveraging dollars" for Monroe, he said.
Main Street Monroe, Inc. was asking for $25,000, the same amount as last year. The committee had given it $10,000.
Main Street president Ron Spielman said the organization is looking a budget of $128,000 for 2012; in addition to the amount requested from the city, it is seeking $30,000 from the Business Improvement District. It will raise the remainder of its budget on its own, he said.
Funding for Main Street is coming out of the city's general budget this year. In recent past budgets, the amount came out the funds of Tax Increment District No. 7, the city's downtown area.
The committee began the meeting with a balanced budget. But after an hour of presentations and discussion without a committee decision on how to fully fund the two organizations' requests, committee Chairman Charles Koch made use of a 10-minute break in the meeting to speak with the city engineer supervisor Al Gerber about taking the extra $29,000 from the street construction budget.
Street construction funds had been increased by about $266,000, up from $174,000 in 2011, to $440,000 next year. Gerber had initially requested $500,000.
Committee members Reid Stangel and Chris Beer voted for the shift in funds; Tyler Schultz voted against.
With only half of its requested funding on the budget worksheet, Green County Humane Society representatives will meet with Koch, City Administrator Phil Rath and other city leaders at 3 p.m. today at city hall to negotiate a contract for 2012.
The humane society negotiated its contract last year via a joint meeting of the public property and finance committees. Besides monetary consideration for its services, building rent, utilities and supplies were in the contract negotiations. GCHS representatives last year said it intended to request $30,000 for 2012. The society received $15,000 last year.
The Finance and Taxation committee will meet again at 6 p.m. Wednesday at city hall to work on the budget. Funding for the humane society and the city airport are expected to be among the items to be discussed.
Committee members had lowered the requested amounts in previous budget meetings this fall in an effort to meet a zero increase in the city tax levy for 2012 compared to 2011.
But the new levels passed by a narrow 2-to-1 margin.
The move to add about $29,000 to the entities' funding was achieved by reducing the street construction budget by the same amount.
Both entities made a second presentation to the committee Monday, after their funding amounts were poised to be reduced next year.
Green County Development Corporation requested $28,670, down slightly from the city's budgeted $30,000 in 2011. The committee had allocated $14,500.
Speaking in support of GCDC were Rep. Janis Ringhand, (D-Evansville) and Mike Sanders, CEO of Monroe Clinic and former GCDC board chairman.
A member of the state legislative Committee on Rural Economic Development and Rural Affairs, Ringhand said county-level economic development corporations are "on the front line" to capture investors' interest in their communities.
"Making initial contact will be the impetus when these people start making decisions to expand or relocate," she added.
Sanders noted increased economic development efforts in Dane County and in nearby Illinois counties. Not funding GCDC to its full amount is "in essence de-leveraging dollars" for Monroe, he said.
Main Street Monroe, Inc. was asking for $25,000, the same amount as last year. The committee had given it $10,000.
Main Street president Ron Spielman said the organization is looking a budget of $128,000 for 2012; in addition to the amount requested from the city, it is seeking $30,000 from the Business Improvement District. It will raise the remainder of its budget on its own, he said.
Funding for Main Street is coming out of the city's general budget this year. In recent past budgets, the amount came out the funds of Tax Increment District No. 7, the city's downtown area.
The committee began the meeting with a balanced budget. But after an hour of presentations and discussion without a committee decision on how to fully fund the two organizations' requests, committee Chairman Charles Koch made use of a 10-minute break in the meeting to speak with the city engineer supervisor Al Gerber about taking the extra $29,000 from the street construction budget.
Street construction funds had been increased by about $266,000, up from $174,000 in 2011, to $440,000 next year. Gerber had initially requested $500,000.
Committee members Reid Stangel and Chris Beer voted for the shift in funds; Tyler Schultz voted against.
With only half of its requested funding on the budget worksheet, Green County Humane Society representatives will meet with Koch, City Administrator Phil Rath and other city leaders at 3 p.m. today at city hall to negotiate a contract for 2012.
The humane society negotiated its contract last year via a joint meeting of the public property and finance committees. Besides monetary consideration for its services, building rent, utilities and supplies were in the contract negotiations. GCHS representatives last year said it intended to request $30,000 for 2012. The society received $15,000 last year.
The Finance and Taxation committee will meet again at 6 p.m. Wednesday at city hall to work on the budget. Funding for the humane society and the city airport are expected to be among the items to be discussed.