Councilors pass 2021 city budget
Councilors passed the 2021 city budget during Monday’s St. Marys City Council meeting.
Greg Foxhoven, the director of public service and safety, updated council on the third reading of amended Ordinance 2020-38 that the current spending amount for the budget is $ 41,807,054.43. In comparison, the 2019 city budget was passed at $ 49,154,660.76 and $52,284,620.43 in 2020.
And there were two significant changes to the amendment, Foxhoven added.
There is an increase of $103,940 for wages, benefits and operational costs totaling $38,940.
Of those wage increases is Foxhoven’s position, which is a 2.5% increase effective Jan. 18 totaling $93,163.72. Council later suspended the rules and passed Ordinance 2021- 01, adjusting the salary of the director of public service and safety.
Another addition to that increase was a 2.5% wage increase regarding supervisory personnel and non-represented employees. Foxhoven said there are 23 employees affected by the increase and he added that the 2.5% increase is consistent with what union-represented city employees
have received as well as with other municipalities.
Adding to the $93,163.72 increase was capital improvements totaling $65,000 for CMI software, which Foxhoven added would help the city with its payroll, purchase orders and finance reports.
The amended ordinance also had a decrease of $725,000 from the Capital Improvement.
“We feel it is appropriately conservative
based on the fact that we are still in this pandemic and we don’t know how things are going to shake out in the near future,” Foxhoven said.
To go along with the budget, council also passed amended Ordinance 2020-39, authorizing the purchase of various materials, equipment and services for departments for the city of St. Marys. No changes were made to the ordinance.
In other business, council:
• Heard about a liquor permit transfer for 202 W. South St.
• Heard Mayor Pat
McGowan’s annual report.
• Heard the second reading of Resolution 2020-25, a resolution specifying May 4, 2021, as the date for submitting to the electors of the city of St. Marys for their approval the levying of an additional tax on income at the rate of 0.5% and collected and directing the Board of Elections of Auglaize County to conduct the election.
• Heard the first reading of Ordinance 2021- 02, an ordinance rezoning 1.507 acres of land located in Felix
Sweigart’s Subdivision of outlot 91 to the city of St. Marys. Council also heard a legal notice to rezone lots 1-9 in the subdivision, about 1.507 acres of land and is being requested to change the land from I-1, industrial to rezoning the entire area R-3, single family residential zone. Public hearing for the notice will be held at 6:15 p.m., Jan. 25.
• Heard a notice for two public hearings will be held at 6 p.m. Jan. 25 to provide residents with pertinent information regarding the community development block grant (CDBG).