By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Darien Village Board reviewed its proposed budget for 2016 on Oct. 19. A public hearing will be included on the agenda of the Nov. 9 regular board meeting, which will be held one week earlier than usual. The board might then take action on the budget later in the meeting.
The proposed budget includes a tax levy of $1.2 million, a .77 percent increase over the budget for 2015. Administrator Rebecca Houseman LeMire said no mill rate was available yet because the village still needs to get relevant numbers from the other taxing bodies like the Delavan-Darien School District and Walworth County.
LeMire said part of the reason for the .77 percent increase is an increase in the capital improvement budget that resulted in an increase of about $30,000 in debt service from borrowing and refunding for recent projects. The village is also experiencing a loss of $64,992 in revenue from the Wisconsin Expenditure Restraint program because of an increase in the village’s general fund expenditures from the 2014 to 2015 budget.
Other factors included an increase of $28,000 in the police service contract with the City of Delavan and an increase of about $15,000 in worker’s compensation insurance premiums.
In a memo to the board, LeMire said the past year has been a year of transition for the village as a new Village Hall and fire and emergency medical services building were built and a new administrator, clerk and treasurer was hired. Wisconsin Street was also reconstructed and Tax Incremental Finance District No. 2 was closed in the process of creating TIF District No. 3.
“While necessary, these major building and infrastructure projects have left the village with a significant amount of debt that will slowly be paid down over many years,” LeMire said. “In order to continue to provide residents with a high value for the tax dollars spent, the village will have a couple of lean operating years beginning with 2016.”
LeMire said the proposed budget is balanced and meets staff goals while continuing to provide a high level of service at the lowest possible cost.
Library agreement
The board approved a new agreement with the Darien Public Library for use of the village-owned building. Trustee Robert Wenzel had suggested an agreement be reached in October and November 2014 when the board had questions about the library budget, in particular, the amount the Library Board had in its reserve fund.
The Library Board, in turn, had questions about whether the village or the board was responsible for maintaining the building. The Library Board said the money it had in reserve was meant to pay for some of those expenses and questioned if it should be responsible for them.
The new agreement stipulates that the village is responsible for the exterior and mechanical maintenance, and the Library Board is responsible for the interior maintenance and contents. No rent will be charged.
The board also approved intergovernmental agreements with the Town of Darien for use of the new fire and rescue building and for West Park improvements.
Trustee compensation
Wenzel suggested amending the ordinance that was approved in March that increased compensation for board members. Wenzel said he believed the $75 per diem board members receive for attending regular board meetings above and beyond their paid salary is too much considering the financial constraints of the village. He proposed eliminating the per diem.
LeMire said that would require action that could not be taken at this meeting, so it will be placed on the Nov. 9 meeting agenda.
Flagpole to be erected
The board approved erecting a new flagpole on the green space next to the new Village Hall at a cost of $3,387.
