MANSFIELD — No one was more interested in Mr. Mansfield’s proposed 2024 interim spending plan than the two people sitting in the back row of the audience Wednesday night.
That would be Jodi Perry and Kelly Blankenship, who will become mayor and finance director, respectively, in January.
Those attending the City Council meeting heard good news on revenue from outgoing Treasurer Lynn Steward, who said 2023 income tax revenues were higher than expected.
“Our income tax estimates allow us to increase almost $2.4 million compared to the final budget in 2023. Income taxes, especially withholding and net income, are very good,” Steward said. He said this while explaining the final spending plan to lawmakers.
Mr Steward, in his 12th and final year as finance director, highlighted several areas of the proposed interim plan. Congress must approve a preliminary plan by Dec. 31 and a final budget by the end of March.
The council that votes on the preliminary plan will look much different than the council that approves the final plan in the first quarter of 2024.
Two new members are expected to be added to the council in January, and there are some moves, such as shuffling seats and changing the leadership of the council.
Based on Tuesday’s election results, Cynthia Daley will represent the 4th Ward and Deborah Mount will represent the 6th Ward. Parliament was held one day later than usual due to the election.
Current City Council President David Falquette is expected to swap seats with At-Large Councilman Phil Scott, also based on the Nov. 7 election. Mansfield’s charter states that the Speaker of Parliament is only supposed to vote in the case of a tie.
This gives Republicans control of the Legislature in January, holding the 1st, 3rd, and 6th districts, as well as both At-Large seats.
Democrats control the 2nd and 4th districts.
Ward 5 Councilman Aurelio Diaz is an independent.
Steward said all departments and funding requests for 2024 were granted, but only police and fire departments were allocated capital expenditures for reissues.
“General Fund appropriations increased approximately $321,000, primarily due to increases in contractual salaries and benefits. The budget increase was offset by estimated revenues of $1.1 million. “The appropriations are not included in the 2024 (General Fund) Interim Budget,” Steward said.
He said street fund appropriations have increased by about $330,000, primarily due to increased capital spending. “They’ve been allocated about $730,000 in capital,” Steward said.
The finance director said planned spending on safety forces has increased by about $1.2 million, also due to contractual salary and benefit increases. He said these budget increases would be offset by estimated revenue increases.
Steward said the safety force’s spending plan includes $203,000 in recurring capital expenditures in 2024.
Steward said the water fund is seeing an increase in spending of about $5 million, primarily due to capital investments.
“Estimated (water) revenues are up $1.7 million, primarily due to the new turnkey rates,” Steward said.
She said the Water Fund has $4.3 million in capital, including the third phase of the water treatment plant improvement project.
“Funding for the Main Street Water Line Replacement Project was reduced by $1.4 million to accommodate the unappropriated balance,” Steward said.
He said sewer fund spending decreased by about $2.4 million, primarily due to a reduction in the Third Street culvert replacement project.
“That’s probably going to end. And we’ve been able to reduce spending on that,” Steward said, adding that the sewer fund has about $2.9 million in capital expenditures.
“This is for the North Lake Park bridge replacement project, the Main Street sewer upgrade, and the State Route 42 drainage project. Sewer Fund capital, with some balances to be applied next year. was reduced by $1.3 million,” Steward said.
Steward said the plan calls for a 7% increase in employee health benefits as approved by the Health Insurance Commission.
“Our third-party administrator recommended a 12% increase. So we’ll probably have to draw down the reserve this year. It looks like we’re going to be in short supply again this year. And going into next year, at least in the preliminary budget. Because that 12% increase was not implemented, there may be a shortfall.
“So that may need to be considered in the final budget,” she said.
City Council is scheduled to read the preliminary plan three times before voting on Dec. 19.
Current Ward 4 Councilman Alomar Davenport, chair of the City Council Finance Committee, said he would invite at least the police, fire, water and civil engineering departments to the next meeting on Nov. 21.
For the past few years, the finance committee chair has convened all departments to scrutinize the budget. Davenport said that’s not the plan this time.
“Our actual final budget will be the new administration’s budget. It will be Mayor Perry’s budget, not Mayor Sinker’s budget. We will have a new finance director. We will also have a new finance (committee) chair. Masu.
“So I wanted to give the new administration, the new finance committee, an opportunity to review that budget and look at it and talk to the new administration about it,” Davenport said.
Councilwoman Stephanie Soeder agreed.
“I think it’s a good idea to give them that opportunity if they feel they need it. But I tend to agree with you about redoing (the budget) in the near future. For the next mayor. You have the opportunity to create your budget as you see fit.
“I’m not saying they don’t agree, and we don’t want to assume. But I think what you’re doing makes sense,” Soeder said.
