MONROE - The city Finance and Taxation Committee failed to reach consensus on how much funding to give to six outside entities Tuesday.
The committee will take up the funding requests again, along with debt service and departmental capital accounts, on Monday, Oct. 17.
Requests for the funds, totaling about $142,000, came from leaders of city and county organizations, who were given the opportunity to explain their work and budget needs.
City Administrator Phil Rath, who presented a preliminary, balanced operating budget last week, sent the requests to the committee for approval, because they were "controversial ones," he said. City officials are trying to hold the 2012 tax levy at the same level as 2011 when expenses were budgeted at $13 million.
Green County Development Corporation (GCDC) requested $28,670 for 2012, based on a per capita rate of $2.65. The request is a slight decrease from $30,000 requested last year. Its budget for 2012 is $154,000, according to Anna Schramke, executive director of GCDC.
Greenwood Cemetery Association asked for $33,000, the same amount it received last year. Its budget is about $100,00 to $120,000 annually, according to Nate Klassy, representing the association.
Also keeping requests at 2011 funding, Monroe Chamber of Commerce requested $15,000, and Main Street Monroe, Inc. asked for $25,000.
Green County Humane Society is expected to request $30,000, double its 2011 funding of $15,000. Representatives from GCHS were not present at the meeting Tuesday. Rath said the they are requesting an informal meeting with city leaders to negotiate their contract for animal control services.
New to the budget requests was Family Promise asking for $10,000, recurring annually. Family Promise, in conjunction with local churches, is working to provide assistance for homeless individuals.
Rath's preliminary budget does not include the request from Family Promise or the request from Main Street Monroe, funded from the Tax Increment District revenues in 2011. The additional $15,000 from the humane society was also not included.
To include these new requests, the committee would have the options of increasing the levy, using the fund balance or cutting other services in the budget, said Rath.
The preliminary budget was prepared based on the committee's directions not to increase the levy, and Charles Koch, committee chairman, reiterated his stance of not increasing the levy.
But committee members were divided on which entities should be maintained at their present level and laid out a tentative plan that reduced the humane society to its 2011 funding of $15,000 and cut GCDC funding by as much as $18,000.
Members were split on whether to maintain any funding to GCDC, as some members stated they did not see its contribution to the city's economic development in recent years.
Members were also split on whether to fund Main Street at $10,000 or leave its funding at $25,000, based on the success of its 2011 programs, particularly the Concerts on the Square and Zoo on the Square. This summer was Main Street's first year as an organization separate from the city. The $25,000 request would represent about one-fifth of Main Street's 2012 budget of about $128,000.
Family Promise was given $5,000. According to Koch, the police department spends about $60 to $200 per week in man hours working to find shelter for people in homeless situations. Family Promise, he said, could create some relief for police by providing a different avenue to find help for homeless people.
Monroe Chamber of Commerce funding was originally set at its requested $15,000, but some members wanted to add another $5,000 to encourage the organization to add more office help. The city contracts with the chamber for economic development services.
Greenwood Cemetery Association was the lone organization whose request was not adjusted Tuesday. The city is responsible by law to take over the responsibilities of maintaining the cemetery if the association cannot fulfill the duties.
The Finance and Taxation Committee set its next meetings for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 17 and Oct. 19 at the city hall.
The committee will take up the funding requests again, along with debt service and departmental capital accounts, on Monday, Oct. 17.
Requests for the funds, totaling about $142,000, came from leaders of city and county organizations, who were given the opportunity to explain their work and budget needs.
City Administrator Phil Rath, who presented a preliminary, balanced operating budget last week, sent the requests to the committee for approval, because they were "controversial ones," he said. City officials are trying to hold the 2012 tax levy at the same level as 2011 when expenses were budgeted at $13 million.
Green County Development Corporation (GCDC) requested $28,670 for 2012, based on a per capita rate of $2.65. The request is a slight decrease from $30,000 requested last year. Its budget for 2012 is $154,000, according to Anna Schramke, executive director of GCDC.
Greenwood Cemetery Association asked for $33,000, the same amount it received last year. Its budget is about $100,00 to $120,000 annually, according to Nate Klassy, representing the association.
Also keeping requests at 2011 funding, Monroe Chamber of Commerce requested $15,000, and Main Street Monroe, Inc. asked for $25,000.
Green County Humane Society is expected to request $30,000, double its 2011 funding of $15,000. Representatives from GCHS were not present at the meeting Tuesday. Rath said the they are requesting an informal meeting with city leaders to negotiate their contract for animal control services.
New to the budget requests was Family Promise asking for $10,000, recurring annually. Family Promise, in conjunction with local churches, is working to provide assistance for homeless individuals.
Rath's preliminary budget does not include the request from Family Promise or the request from Main Street Monroe, funded from the Tax Increment District revenues in 2011. The additional $15,000 from the humane society was also not included.
To include these new requests, the committee would have the options of increasing the levy, using the fund balance or cutting other services in the budget, said Rath.
The preliminary budget was prepared based on the committee's directions not to increase the levy, and Charles Koch, committee chairman, reiterated his stance of not increasing the levy.
But committee members were divided on which entities should be maintained at their present level and laid out a tentative plan that reduced the humane society to its 2011 funding of $15,000 and cut GCDC funding by as much as $18,000.
Members were split on whether to maintain any funding to GCDC, as some members stated they did not see its contribution to the city's economic development in recent years.
Members were also split on whether to fund Main Street at $10,000 or leave its funding at $25,000, based on the success of its 2011 programs, particularly the Concerts on the Square and Zoo on the Square. This summer was Main Street's first year as an organization separate from the city. The $25,000 request would represent about one-fifth of Main Street's 2012 budget of about $128,000.
Family Promise was given $5,000. According to Koch, the police department spends about $60 to $200 per week in man hours working to find shelter for people in homeless situations. Family Promise, he said, could create some relief for police by providing a different avenue to find help for homeless people.
Monroe Chamber of Commerce funding was originally set at its requested $15,000, but some members wanted to add another $5,000 to encourage the organization to add more office help. The city contracts with the chamber for economic development services.
Greenwood Cemetery Association was the lone organization whose request was not adjusted Tuesday. The city is responsible by law to take over the responsibilities of maintaining the cemetery if the association cannot fulfill the duties.
The Finance and Taxation Committee set its next meetings for 5:30 p.m. Oct. 17 and Oct. 19 at the city hall.