PERRYSBURG – The city’s proposed 2010 budget shows more conservative expenditures than last year to
accommodate a 21-percent decrease in projected revenue.
Mayor Nelson Evans submitted next year’s working budget to council members before the beginning of
October for review. Notably, the budget anticipates no increase in city employment, no need for a hiring
freeze or layoffs, no increase in fees or charges and no increase in the 1.5-percent income tax rate.
However, the mayor cautioned in his memorandum to council that the city would remain vigilant for
changes in economic conditions that would potentially affect certain services or would result in
personnel adjustments of some nature.
"The expenditures as defined in the proposed budget are responsible and conservative," the
mayor wrote. "It is our collective responsibility to continue monitoring and evaluating our
financial position as we enter and progress through the new budget year."
The general fund budget projects revenues of $24,308,070, with tax collections accounting for $13,700,000
of that amount. The figures constitute a decrease in revenue of 21 percent from the early 2009 budget
and a reduction of 16 percent from the projected 2009 income tax collection.
In the budget summary, year-to-year comparisons were based on the originally approved 2009 budget. The
original 2009 budget was adjusted mid-year, however, in response to changing economic conditions.
Expenditures for 2010 are estimated at $23,447,394 – a 22 percent reduction from the original 2009
budget.
After expenditures, the expected 2010 balance comes in at $860,675.
"It is my goal to insure that we challenge ourselves through this budget to be connected to our
community in a creative manner, consolidate our efforts where necessary and approach our daily work in a
courteous manner," Evans stated.
According to Finance Director David Creps, department heads were asked to cut spending when projected
revenues decreased.
"We’ve tried to tighten our belts accordingly with revenue reduction" to budget responsibly, he
said.
The city’s largest single expense next year will be a new fire truck at a cost of roughly $500,000 to
return the city’s apparatus minimum to three engines. Most of the city’s money goes toward personnel
costs, followed by contract services, materials and supplies and road work.
However, Creps noted that Perrysburg personnel costs account for less of the total revenues than in other
communities – about 60 percent, in the city’s case.
"We’re not planning to do nearly as much in 2010 as we plan to do in 2009," which was "a
big year for us," Creps said.
Some of the budget highlights include:
¥ A lobbyist in Washington, D.C., to foster an external federal government relationship for potential
capital funding sources.
¥ Continuity of the planning and zoning administrative associate to prepare for organizational transition
in that division.
¥ A water pollution control service truck to replace a current vehicle.
¥ Ball field improvements.
¥ New vehicles for: the wastewater treatment plant, bureau of parks, street division, water division,
municipal employees, as well as a new backhoe and refuse collection truck.
¥ Fire station improvements.
¥ Public safety department cell phone enhancements to boost capability during scheduled and unexpected
community events.
The combined 2010 Proprietary Funds Revenue Budget – which consists of the water and sewer accounts – are
projected to be $11,255,667.00.
The projected expenditures from those funds total $8,378,268.21.
Creps said the city continues to work toward paying off its general fund debt, projected at $3.85 million
in 2010.
"We’re working to get that off the books," he said. "We hope to get that all off the books
in the next few years."
The sewer debt, however, still looms large at $19,522,431. Most of that amount will be locked into bonds
at a fixed rate.
"Hopefully we will soon be in a position where it’s only sewer debt left on the books, and that’s
our goal I think in the medium term, so to speak," he said.
The city council will vote on the budget during its second meeting in December. In the meantime,
departments are presenting their budgets in committee.
"I anticipate that even with reductions in expected revenues," the mayor wrote, "it will
be a year filled with beneficial community projects and provision of efficient public safety and public
service delivery."