A focus on belt tightening continues to pay dividends for the village of North Lewisburg as village officials approved the 2021 budget at Tuesday night’s meeting.
The budget nearly mirrors 2020 numbers, with $1.2 million in projected revenue and $1.3 million in estimated expenses. Though the village appears to be projecting deficit spending, the numbers more reflect conservative revenue estimates coupled with aggressive expenditure totals.
“Just because it’s there doesn’t mean we’re going to spend it all,” village administrator Andy Yoder said.
The budget showed a similar shortfall in 2020, but the village will end the year with thousands of dollars in carryover funds. Those exact figures will not be known until the end of the year. The village also has vast reserves of investment funds totaling more than $1.2 million.
Brightening the village’s financial picture even more, according to Yoder, is that North Lewisburg has made its final loan payment on the water plant and tower. The village had paid more than $89,000 annually on the loan for the structures, which were built in 1998.
The improved financial picture has also benefited employees of the village. Following an executive session Tuesday night, council voted to increase employee salaries by 3%. Also Village Clerk Jennifer McCombs and Police Chief Scott Bodey were awarded payments of $2,500 each for additional duties performed throughout the year.
The village will see general fund revenue of $400,000 in 2021, with $305,000 of that coming from the municipal income tax and $22,000 coming from property taxes.
The street fund is projected see revenue of $88,000, with $80,000 coming from gasoline tax. Another $8,000 from the gasoline tax will go into the state highway fund, which is projected to receive $12,000 next year.
The water and sewer funds are projected to receive $300,000 and $400,000 respectively in 2021, with nearly all of that money coming from utility payments.
General fund expenses for 2021 are estimated at $468,000, which includes a variety of the village expenses, including the newly formed police department.
The street department will see expenses of $79,000 with the state highway fund adding another $17,000 to the total.
The water and sewer departments have projected expenses of $252,000 and $462,000.
In other business, council:
-Learned that legal counsel has said there is no problem with Bodey volunteering time to deliver pizzas in the village. Bodey has been offering his services to Cardinal Pizza to help with hardships being experienced by the business. It was noted that Bodey does still carry the powers of a police officer while volunteering his time, but he does not venture inside the homes of customers.
-Approved a payment of $200 to the Maple Acres Garden Club for flowers and decorations provided to the village.
-Approved an agreement with the Champaign County Commissioners to provide legal counsel to indigent individuals.