Fire Chief Virgil Sharp and Assistant Clerk-Treasure Renda Loetz, left, review notes at the Milford budget meeting Monday, July 29. Photo by Lilli Dwyer.

By Lilli Dwyer
InkFreeNews

MILFORD — Milford’s Town Council met Monday and Tuesday, July 29 and 30, to hear proposed department budgets for 2025. Most budgets saw a 4%, with a couple of exceptions.

The police department’s proposed budget for 2025 is $382,682, a 6.08% increase over last year.

This increase is partly due to a 4% raise in wages for full-time officers. With part-time officers leaving the department, this frees up some funds for the full-timers.

The police budget is $133,000 over its estimated revenue for 2025. However, the department is anticipating a promised $20,000 from Milford Elementary School, as well as funds from the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. The JAG grant covers salary and benefits for four officers, an estimated $69,943. The department will be applying for this grant in October.

“We are 100% funded through the year until Jan. 1,” Marshal Derek Kreider added.

The fire department’s proposed budget is $106,975, an 11.1% increase over last year.

Fire Chief Virgil Sharp explained the increase as a result of tornado siren maintenance, a new budget category. Previously, the department only did repairs, not maintenance. The service can cost between $800 and $1,000 per siren.

Additionally, Sharp cited rising costs on equipment and pump tests for the fire engines.

He also mentioned replacing the fire department’s HVAC system, which he said is old and inefficient. It has needed repairs a few times in the last year. The estimated $15,000 cost was scratched from the fire department’s budget and added to the town’s, as the fire department building is owned by the town. Council member Jim Smiley asked Sharp to look for more quotes on replacement services and present the new numbers at the August meeting.

For the wastewater department, Mark Brubaker budgeted a 4% increase for a total of $577,195, with the biggest increase in the repairs and maintenance category.

For other budget considerations, Brubaker will be presenting quotes for removal of tree roots from around a perforated sewer line at the next meeting.

Superintendent Steven Marquart also budgeted a 4% increase for the street department for a total of $489,960. One of the biggest increases is in tree trimming, which went from $6,000 to $15,000, as there are several trees in town that need to be removed and branches that need removed. The other notable increase is in equipment, which Marquart raised to $45,000 to account for the possibility of new deicing equipment for the town.

The park department was also given a 4% increase to $56,770, with an increase in repairs and maintenance from $2,965 to $9,000 to replace failing picnic tables. Marquart also factored in replacement of removed trees and installing LED bulbs on light poles.

The water department saw another 4% for a total of $308,081. Wages saw a 4% raise, and uniform costs went from $620 to $700.

The clerk’s budget is currently estimated at $393,321, a 4.34% increase over last year. This number will change after the addition of HVAC replacement costs and another proposal: longevity bonuses for town employees.

The council agreed on some potential parameters, with bonuses starting at $200.

“That gives people some skin in the game, so we keep those one and two-year employees,” said Smiley.

The amount would increase each year and then cap at $5,000 for 25 years of service. The cumulative cost of this would $13,200 for the year, split among all departments for the 11 total town employees.

Clerk-Treasurer Tricia Gall mentioned the possibility of hiring a part-time employee to manage the Milford Community Building. She said she would like to see more activity there, but the clerk’s department doesn’t have time to organize it on its own. She estimated the cost for this position at less than $200 per week, about $10,000 a year.

Increased pay for town council members was also discussed. Council pay is allowed to increase by a maximum of 4% every four years. Council President Doug Ruch pointed out the number of meetings and hours spent in grant acquisition has gone up significantly. Gall decided to factor the 4% into the budget and let the council decide on an increase when the next salary ordinance is reviewed.

“Figure in the 4% and if we have to cut it when all the numbers are together, we’ll cut it back to what it was,” said Ruch.

The clerk’s utility budget saw a jump due to the increased size of the new water line at the fire station, raising that utility bill from $55 to $1,800.

Trash pickup is currently budgeted at $73,000 this year, with the new addition of the Eastfield housing development. The town intends to bid for another trash service after Sweetheimer, but has not started the process.

“You’ll see a big portion of my budget is fire department, trash, and then mosquito spray, essentially,” said Gall. “And there’s a little bit in there for equipment and things that just pop up.”

All of this brings the town’s proposed budget for 2025 to $1,325,450, a number subject to change. A budget hearing and state approval will be required before anything is truly finalized.

In other business, the council approved a concrete seal for Well No. 3 from Peerless Midwest for $4,860. They also approved maintenance on the main lift station from Evapar for $2,809.

The next Milford Town Council meeting will be Monday, Aug. 12.