Plain City officials are looking forward to taking on economic development projects in 2023 while being “realistic” about the amount of work they can do.
“Next year we want to focus on just biting off what we can chew,” Village Administrator Haley Lupton told council members during a presentation at their most recent work session.
Still, the administration’s goals for the 2023 budget are wide-ranging, from infrastructure to personnel.
They include creating a budget that is infrastructure-focused, taking on economic development initiatives, working on community support projects, adjusting personnel and “prioritiz(ing) services while maintaining efficiency and smart spending,” Lupton said.
In 2022, the village’s revenues were approximately $3,406,000 compared to $4,363,505 in expenditures, according to Lupton’s presentation. She said the village began with the year with a balance of approximately $2.5 million, which leaves the end balance at $1,604,445.
Council members said they feel comfortable with an ending fund balance of about $1.6 million, or an operating budget for six months, which is projected to be the case for next year as well.
Lupton said revenues are expected to be higher in 2023, at approximately $3,719,620, as officials expect 359 homes to be built next year, which results in generation of impact fees, capacity fees and income and property taxes. In 2022, 70 houses were built.
However, expenditures will be down to $3,747,456 in 2023, Lupton said.
She emphasized that the numbers will likely adjust as officials close in on the end of the year and legislation appears before council.
Lupton laid out several big ticket infrastructure projects that the village plans to accomplish next year.
The largest project will revolve around Uptown parking improvements, with $650,000 budgeted for it.
“Parking’s not fun but it’s so critical to the success of the Uptown,” said Council President Michael Terry.
Lupton explained that village officials plan to pave, curb and add a storm drain to the gravel lot under the water tower standing behind the former municipal building on South Chillicothe Street. She said the old zoning office will be torn down as well.
An additional $300,000 is budgeted to continue work on the Uptown streetscapes.
Aside from work in the Uptown area, dollars budgeted for infrastructure in 2023 include $300,000 for street repaving; $40,000 for water valve maintenance; $200,000 for inflow and infiltration work on the wastewater treatment system and $50,000 for Maple Street repairs, if the project cannot be completed this year.
Terry said after 2023, he would like to see the administration shift its focus from Uptown improvements and undertake more projects centered on connectivity.
Lupton noted that economic development work will ideally allow staff to create a path to begin connectivity projects.
She said $30,000 is budgeted for a U.S. 42/Route 161 corridor study along with $45,000 toward creating and bolstering an economic development strategy.
Beyond that, Lupton said there are a number of economic development proposals “we’ve been talking about forever and now we can finally get started” since dedicated staff members were hired.
The proposals, which will be led by Development Manager Jason Stanford include setting aside $200,000 for a land acquisition fund; $10,000 for a storefront enhancement grant; $7,250 for marketing and promotions; $3,500 for a summer intern provided through the Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission and $1,000 to establish a Community Improvement Corporation (CIC).
Lupton also highlighted a number of Parks and Recreation projects.
She said $100,000 in capital grant dollars will be used to conduct a Heritage Trail feasibility study, which will also contribute to council’s goal of increasing connectivity.
Other grant-funded work includes $5,000 from the Union County Health Department for Farmers Market upgrades and $180,000 to create the Madison Meadows park, half of which will be grant dollars.
Additionally, the budget plans for $30,000 to go toward rehabilitation work on the South Shelter in Pastime Park along with $80,000 for another concrete pad at the pool, as Lupton said the area becomes extremely muddy.
While $40,000 is budgeted for village events, Lupton said the amount could be increased to $65,000. She noted that half the events budget goes solely toward Fourth of July fireworks.
Council is also considering implementing compensation changes based on a study completed by a consultant this year.
If the recommendations from consulting group Clemens and Nelson are implemented, it would impact the budget by approximately $328,000, with $135,000 for the police department and $193,000 for administration.
Lauren Giaimo, a member of the Personnel and Finance Committee, told council her committee recommends implementing the changes in order to bolster recruitment and retention, specifically in reference to the police department.
She said the village could be the most desirable community to live and work in, but would struggle to recruit quality personnel if the wages are not competitive.
“I mean, money talks,” Giaimo said.
PCPD Chief Dale McKee said compensation needs to be evaluated more regularly otherwise the village will continue to play catch-up.
“If we keep waiting three years to do a compensation study, there’s always going to be a sticker shock that third year,” he said.
Terry said he appreciated the points made by Giaimo and McKee, but wanted more time to consider the details of the consultant’s report. He said $328,000 of a $3.7 million budget is “significant.”
Lupton and council said they will further discuss the compensation study, along with other specifics, during the council meeting on Nov. 14, when council will hear a first reading of legislation to approve the budget.