Wilder City Council had the first reading of its fiscal budget for 2024-2025, which includes a retention agreement for the public works team, increased funding for fire, police, and public works and a more collaborative process for budget decisions.
During the June 3 council meeting, Mayor Valerie Jones reviewed key highlights and thanked everyone involved in creating the budget.
Jones said that the new budget continues to hit the marks of being fiscally responsible, conservative and balanced.
“This is my statutory duty, and without increasing the tax rate, we have again achieved a budget designed to serve the city and our residents, while maintaining a reasonable, real, property tax,” Jones said.
Jones outlined several key areas of some of the general fund expenditures expected for the next year, including fire at $2.15 million, police at $1.78 million and public works at $370,000.
“Most of these line items have remained the same, or there is a small increase” Jones said. “The most notable increase is due to our new officers that we just hired, as well as, the new uniforms and equipment.”
The new budget also allows for a retention agreement for the public works team.
“Our fire and police do have a retention agreement and I am happy to announce that we are offering one to the public works team,” Jones said.
Jones thanked everyone involved in this process, commending their time and effort.
“This team continues to demonstrate solid fiscal management and expense controls,” Jones said. “They ensure that needed tools, equipment and protective gear are provided within their departments to get jobs done. All while staying within the parameters of the budget.”
Wilder’s expected revenue for the upcoming fiscal year is expected to increase by approximately 6.1% from the previous year.
During discussion between council members about the upcoming new fiscal budget, a few concerns arose, with one underlying issue, transparency.
“If we own the budget, we should know what is being spent,” councilmember Kelly Meiser said. “I fear we, as council, don’t have control of the budget.”
Meiser and other members of the council called for a more collaborative process when it comes to bigger decisions, like appropriating how funds are used within the budget.
“I think we would just like to know what’s going on, instead of all the sudden we see things on an email,” councilmember Jim Profitt said.
This discussion led to a couple of changes to the budget, including $15,000 pulled from capital carryover to be used as merit for administration, fire and police, with each department receiving $5,000. The other change provides funding for the development of the sewer line on Frederick’s Landing from the capital budget.
The amended changes will be included in a second reading of the budget at the next city council meeting on June 17 at the city building, 520 Licking Pike.