With a work session an hour earlier, members of the Pine Bluffs Town Council considered the 2009/10 town budget during Monday’s regular session of council.
In addition to discussion before and during the meeting, a public hearing on the budget was held during the regular session. With a light crowd turnout, conversation concerning the budget was almost exclusively conducted by members of council.
Speaking to town treasurer Cate Cundall, councilman Mark Fornstrom asked Cundall how accurate last year’s projections were.
"When we did this last year, were we pretty close in our projections?" asked Fornstrom.
Cundall reported budget predictions have been very close and council members could expect the numbers in front of them to be very similar as the year progressed.
In the balanced budget, the bulk of the $10.8 million dollar disbursements come from $6.8 million in capital improvement projects such as the proposed day care center and improvements to the community center.
Also considered in the budget is a proposed 5 percent pay increase for all town employees. At issue for the council was how to distribute the pay increase.
Councilman Alan Curtis suggested a 2 percent increase across the board and the remaining 3 percent to be determined by department heads.
Police Chief Tom Mohren noted that such a system could be problematic with no employee evaluations currently in place.
"I also notice there are a lot of areas where there are shortfalls that could be helped by just tightening
things up," Curtis said. "We need to try and find some savings along the way while maintaining our current level of service."
Included in the receipts portion of the budget was an estimated $10,000 from the RV Park.
"It’s really time we consider some firm plans on how to renovate or improve the RV park," said Mayor Bill Shain.
Noting that the Wyoming School Facilities Commission has repeatedly told the Laramie County School District 2 Board of Trustees that a new elementary school for Pine Bluffs was low on the priority list, Shain said it was high time improvements were made at the RV park. Currently, LCSD2 owns the land at the RV park with the town managing it.
With no further discussion, the board moved to approve the 2009/10 budget for its third and final reading. The measure unanimously passed along with a resolution amending the budget,
In other business, council approved the building permit for Rick Goebel at 207 E. Third St. for the construction of a gazebo. Council also heard Daryl Gade’s request to vacate portions of Wilhelm Road.
Town attorney Alex Davison said he would work with consultants to draft a resolution to present to council at the July 6 meeting.
"We need to make sure that no one gets land locked by this vacation," said Davison.
During the report of departments, Cundall reported she had received eight proposals for the day care and community center project.
After each of them being handed a stack of proposals, councilmembers agreed to review the proposals and develop a short list of candidates by July 18. Notifications will be sent by June 22 to those on the short list and council expects to notify the winning company by the end of the month.
At stake is the town’s ability to bond money for the project. Until the town determines a location for the new day care center, the town cannot bond money for the project.
Reviewing the proposals, Davison noted he would seek outside references for each of the candidates.
In addition to bonding 6th penny tax money for the day care center, council is considering bonding an additional $60,000 dollars to install a sprinkler system at the cemetery.
According to Cundall, the town receives approximately $180,000 dollars each month from 6th penny tax collections.
With no additional business, council adjourned for the evening. The next regular session of the Pine Bluffs Town Council is scheduled for Monday, 7:30 p.m. July 6 at town hall.
