Syracuse Budgets Under Maximum Tax Levy
SYRACUSE — Syracuse’s proposed 2016 budgets fall under the maximum levy, or the maximum property tax money that a local government is allowed to raise and use for budgeting. For this reason, Syracuse Town Council President Paul Stoelting commended departments at the town council’s regular meeting Tuesday, July 21, stating, “Everyone seems like they are doing an outstanding job.”
While pleased, Stoelting asked if departments were budgeting for necessary infrastructure projects that might arise, stating he’d like the creation of a three- or five-year plan to improve infrastructure so it would not be “teetering” or lead to expensive, unplanned repairs.
Clinton Houseworth spoke on behalf of the streets department, noting it had a strong budget, with its one increase being in paving.
Police Chief Tony Ciriello said his department’s major expense would be new ballistic vests. Their replacements are estimated at $15,000, but Ciriello said they plan to piecemeal the purchase and work within the budget.
The only question posed in regards to the budgets was about an increase in Town Manager Henry DeJulia’s equipment and proposed software budget. DeJulia explained the increase would cover a new vehicle if the current one, a retired squad car, continued to have issues.
Council member Brian Woody voiced his yearly comment in complaint that the town spends more on parks than it does on its fire department; however, all council members voted in favor of allowing Clerk-Treasurer Julie Kline to submit the proposed budgets to the Kosciusko County Council for review.
The potential purchase of exercise equipment for the Turkey Creek Fire Territory, which would total approximately $36,500, sparked debate. Council members Bill Musser and Larry Seigel both recalled that at the beginning of Station 1’s remodel, it had been decided that funding for exercise equipment would be the department’s duty to raise.
“Taxpayers shouldn’t necessarily have to buy exercise equipment,” Seigel said.
Firefighter John Hall voiced benefits of having the equipment, from a healthier department to better patient service; however, Siegel clarified that his point was about who is paying for the equipment, stating, “It’s putting a lot of burden on the taxpayers.”
In the end, no motion was made on the purchase of exercise equipment.
In other town council news:
• Council members approved Ordinance 2015-03, an additional appropriation of $40,000 from the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund to the Paving Fund.
• DeJulia stated the town is currently working on sidewalk repairs. He also spoke of a meeting with Wawasee Community Schools and the county in regard to roads and sidewalks for the new Syracuse Elementary School; an idea of potential costs is expected in a couple months.
• Work has started on the pavilion at Lakeside Park, including the removal of a tree due to it having several dead branches.
• Crosby Construction Co. has begun work on the wastewater treatment equipment replacement project. Additionally, the public works department, as of June 30, has replaced 621 water meters out of approximately 1,400. The goal is to have all meters replaced by fall.
• The street department was approved to seek bids for upcoming paving projects, which besides to-be-decided streets could include the parking lots of Fire Stations 1 and 2.
• Rob Merchant, the new public works director, was introduced to council members. He started the position this week.
The next town council meeting is at 7 p.m. Aug. 18 at town hall.