Big plans proposed for 2019 budget

The city of Painesville has proposed its 2019 budget, which seeks $84,035,543 in expenditures for the fiscal year of 2019 across all funds.

This marks a 7.11 percent increase from 2018.

According to the city Financial Director Andrew Unetic, the requested increase will come from “increased revenues from numerous revenue sources and using carryover monies.” These increased revenues stem from a 10 percent increase in budgeted revenues across all funds for 2019, which stands at $77,243,852.

The 2019 budget sees the city spending $19.6 million on various capital projects.

Among the larger projects on the docket include $8 million for continued construction of a new water intake pipe for the Painesville Water Treatment Plant, located near Headlands beach. The project’s total cost is approximated at $17 million, but is financed through a

20-year, interest-free, loan courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency. The project is estimated to be completed in the fall of 2019.

Another $3.1 million set aside for capital projects will be used to bury electrical wires underground as the city continues development on the High Pointe Center, the 7.5 acres where Lake East Hospital stood until its departure in 2009. Another $2.4 million has been parceled out in order

to repave roads throughout town.

Among the roads that the city are proposing to pave are Jackson Street, Button Avenue, and Cedarbrook Drive. According to Unetic, there are other streets which will also be targeted but are awaiting a council determination.

“The city is still trying to determine which ones will benefit the city residents the most by paving them,” he said. There will be three council readings of the proposed 2019 budget before a final decision. Council has until the end of the year to reach approval or will find themselves in violation of the Ohio Revised Code.