(May 4, 2017) The Town of Berlin introduced the first draft of an $11.2 million fiscal year 2018 utility budget during a work session at town hall on Monday night.
The budget represents a 1.5 percent increase over the previous year.
The town operates four utilities, with electric being the biggest. The total projected electric utility budget is $5.57 million, a 1.15 percent increase.
Three other utilities are folded into water resources. The projected water budget was $1.2 million, up 15 percent, sewer was $3.1 million, 21.3 percent higher, and stormwater was $1.5 million, or 28.1 percent lower than the previous year.
The overall water resources budget was projected at $5.8 million, up 1.6 percent over the previous year.
The budget includes a 3 percent salary increase and a 10 percent increase in health insurance costs, although the latter is just an estimate and would likely be adjusted down when the numbers become firmer, Finance Director Natalee Saleh said.
The water administration portion includes funding for a new GIS system and a townwide water and sewer study. Sewer administration would share part of the cost for the study.
Water Superintendent Marvin Smith said the 52 percent increase in the water treatment budget was driven by the cost of addressing an old well house on Franklin Avenue. The building was constructed in 1935 and has a leaky roof, among other problems, Smith said.
Water Resources/Public Works Director Jane Kreiter said more than $1 million in capital improvements in the stormwater budget would come from FEMA and Department of Natural Resources grants the town has already obtained, to be used for major improvements on William Street near Graham, Grice and Nelson streets. Kreiter said that money had to be expended during the next fiscal year.
Capital outlay in the electric department, projected to increase more than 400 percent, was largely driven by the need to replace a bucket truck that is in poor condition. Electric Utilities Director Tim Lawrence said inspectors recommended replacing the old truck, a 1995 model.
Lawrence also asked for funds to extend a pole barn building. He said some materials stored there were left out in the elements because of a lack of space.
Even with all the spending requests, Mayor Gee Williams pointed out that the budget was only projected to increase about 1 percent.
The budget represents a 1.5 percent increase over the previous year.
The town operates four utilities, with electric being the biggest. The total projected electric utility budget is $5.57 million, a 1.15 percent increase.
Three other utilities are folded into water resources. The projected water budget was $1.2 million, up 15 percent, sewer was $3.1 million, 21.3 percent higher, and stormwater was $1.5 million, or 28.1 percent lower than the previous year.
The overall water resources budget was projected at $5.8 million, up 1.6 percent over the previous year.
The budget includes a 3 percent salary increase and a 10 percent increase in health insurance costs, although the latter is just an estimate and would likely be adjusted down when the numbers become firmer, Finance Director Natalee Saleh said.
The water administration portion includes funding for a new GIS system and a townwide water and sewer study. Sewer administration would share part of the cost for the study.
Water Superintendent Marvin Smith said the 52 percent increase in the water treatment budget was driven by the cost of addressing an old well house on Franklin Avenue. The building was constructed in 1935 and has a leaky roof, among other problems, Smith said.
Water Resources/Public Works Director Jane Kreiter said more than $1 million in capital improvements in the stormwater budget would come from FEMA and Department of Natural Resources grants the town has already obtained, to be used for major improvements on William Street near Graham, Grice and Nelson streets. Kreiter said that money had to be expended during the next fiscal year.
Capital outlay in the electric department, projected to increase more than 400 percent, was largely driven by the need to replace a bucket truck that is in poor condition. Electric Utilities Director Tim Lawrence said inspectors recommended replacing the old truck, a 1995 model.
Lawrence also asked for funds to extend a pole barn building. He said some materials stored there were left out in the elements because of a lack of space.
Even with all the spending requests, Mayor Gee Williams pointed out that the budget was only projected to increase about 1 percent.