BUDGET COMMITTEE
Committee
Members Present
T.
Hopkins, D. Fanton, W. Dibble, W. Hall, C. Crandall
(Absent: T. O’Grady)
J.
Margeson, B. Reynolds, B. Riehle, D. Roeske, T. Ross
Approval of Minutes
The September 17 and 22, 2008 Budget
Committee minutes were approved on a motion by Legislator Fanton, seconded by
Legislator Dibble and carried.
Consolidated Highway Improvement
Program
Public Works Superintendent David
Roeske distributed copies of a spreadsheet entitled, “Consolidated Highway
Improvement Program” which summarizes the CHIPS revenue received, CHIPS used to
pay Debt Service and road paving, price of hot mix, miles paved and average
cost per mile to pave for the last 20 years.
It was noted that in some years, CHIPS money was used for bridges, a
salt storage building, milling, sidewalks, curbing, storm drainage system, etc.
instead of strictly paving. Prior to
1991, paving projects were funded with local funds and completed “in-house”
with County forces. In 2001, the
Operation and Maintenance portion of CHIPS was eliminated and dedicated as the
Capital portion only.
Mr. Roeske noted that we are back to 1999 funding
levels with costs that have tripled. Mr.
Roeske indicated that between the actual CHIPS cuts and increased amount the
County plans to dedicate to pay Debt Service this coming year, the funds
available for paving projects are down about $600,000. Mr. Roeske asserted that roads and bridges
exceed other County assets, and we are not taking care of them in the way that
we should. Mr. Roeske indicated that it
would take about $3 million to put them where they should be. Mr. Roeske stated that to keep up with our
344.58 miles of roads we should pave approximately 30 miles per year which
would put us on a 12 year rotation.
Sales Tax Report
County Treasurer Terri Ross
distributed copies of a Sales Tax Report reflecting receipts through October 7,
2008, totaling $13,850,842.36 and interest totaling $13,370.74 which is up
about 10.617 percent ($1,329,390.16) over last year’s figures.
Future Meetings
The next meeting will be November 19, and the five
largest departments will be requested to attend and present their quarterly
reports.
Adjournment
There being no further business to come before the
committee, the meeting was adjourned on a motion by Legislator Fanton, seconded
by Legislator Dibble and carried.
Respectfully
submitted,
Brenda Rigby Riehle, Clerk of the Board
Allegany