WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.000 We don't have a horn. 00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:04.000 Do we? 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:05.000 Come on. 00:00:05.000 --> 00:00:06.000 What's your deal? 00:00:06.000 --> 00:00:09.000 Why don't I say this is all nice and cool by the way? 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:10.000 You know, right? 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:11.000 You're sending us a message. 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:12.000 I know you're here before, but you're also hitting with your dance. 00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:13.000 How you doing? 00:00:13.000 --> 00:00:14.000 Are you doing fine? 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:15.000 Okay, how's it going? 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:44.000 We'll call the special meeting to order, Madam Clerk, if you can call the roll. 00:00:44.000 --> 00:01:06.400 Mayor, Miller, Mayor Miller present on roll call? Here. Alderpersons, Klemm? Here. Monroe? Here. Simmons is absent. Parker? Here. Stacy? Here. Shadle? Here. Sanders and Sellers are absent. But we do have a quorum, Chair. 00:01:06.400 --> 00:01:10.400 Very good. Could you join me in the Pledge of Allegiance? 00:01:10.400 --> 00:01:30.400 I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 00:01:30.400 --> 00:01:39.840 full of the agenda so move second there was none so we moved to item six which is 00:01:39.840 --> 00:01:46.680 discussion of the following budget items general fund revenue government building 00:01:46.680 --> 00:01:52.560 cemetery neighborhoods tourism debt service health care landfill closure 00:01:52.560 --> 00:02:01.840 Garbage, Downtown Revitalization Loan, and Manager Boyer. Thank you. 00:02:07.960 --> 00:02:15.120 There we go. All right, good evening everyone. So we're going to talk about 00:02:15.120 --> 00:02:22.520 revenues tonight and we're going to start with basically everything from 101,001, 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:25.520 and 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:26.520 the 00:02:26.520 --> 00:02:27.520 property taxes. 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:35.020 So the first one, so just, sorry I'm getting a little distracted there. 00:02:35.020 --> 00:02:37.640 So we'll start here with the first one, the property taxes. 00:02:37.640 --> 00:02:42.080 So we budgeted the same amount as last year for property taxes. 00:02:42.080 --> 00:02:45.120 However, we're still waiting on the EAV to make this correct. 00:02:45.120 --> 00:02:52.340 So right now we've got about $2.8 million budgeted in revenue for property taxes. 00:02:52.340 --> 00:03:20.340 Tax. We're looking at about 1.4 million. The portion we received for the income tax is based on the 2020 census figures. So again, this is an estimate. Replacement tax. Corporate, we're looking at some reductions, primarily due to the state reallocation of funds from the local government distributed fund and the personal property replacement tax. So that will be lower than it was last year. 00:03:20.340 --> 00:03:29.340 Mayor. Municipal sales tax about $5.8 million. This is not including the 1% that we moved 00:03:29.340 --> 00:03:35.939 forward last year. I'm sorry, earlier this year in March. That will be reflected in the 00:03:35.939 --> 00:03:46.099 street budget in ensuing meetings. Municipal sales tax, the Home Rule sales tax, it's 1.25% 00:03:46.099 --> 00:03:53.539 that's 4.6 that's what we're estimating for next year. Special use tax so this is 00:03:53.539 --> 00:03:59.379 599,000 this has been decreasing over the past years due to leveling of the 00:03:59.379 --> 00:04:08.139 playing field act of 2021. We've got video game tax 605,000. The Illinois 00:04:08.139 --> 00:04:12.979 Gaming Board website has all the details in our area and how much we collect so 00:04:12.980 --> 00:04:27.980 So this is continuing to move along. Cannabis use tax, state allocation based on the population as we don't have a dispensary here in town so we get an estimate from the state so that'll be 39,000. 00:04:27.980 --> 00:04:41.980 IDOT reimbursement for maintenance at $85,000. That's yearly, that's for maintaining IDOT thoroughfares through town. That would be minor repairs and that type of thing, pothole patching and such. 00:04:41.980 --> 00:04:51.980 Reimbursement for traffic signals, $25,000, and that's a reimbursement from the state for repairs to traffic signals in State Right-of-Way. 00:04:51.980 --> 00:05:01.980 We've got food and beverage, about $840,000. That's 1.25 local tax directly back to the City of Freeport for food and beverage. 00:05:01.980 --> 00:05:09.980 Electric tax, we're looking at about $880,000 from ComEd and natural gas, $660,000 from NICOR. 00:05:09.980 --> 00:05:21.980 Telephone Use Tax. Again, this one is continuing to decrease over the years. So right now we're budgeting for $198,000 for this year, but it will continue to drop. 00:05:21.980 --> 00:05:31.980 Cable TV. Similar situation. We're budgeting for $260,000 this year, but it's decreasing as people cut the cord. 00:05:31.980 --> 00:05:37.980 And we'll be evaluating any kind of streaming tax that we can do to replace that in the future. 00:05:37.980 --> 00:05:51.980 We've got reimbursement for fire, so there's $25,000. That's training and other salary reimbursements and then same thing for police, $25,000 and also again salary reimbursements. 00:05:51.980 --> 00:06:02.980 Small miscellaneous grants, we have left blank due to the fact that we don't know what we'll receive, so that will change as the year progresses. 00:06:02.980 --> 00:06:08.379 and then of course federal grant ARPA is no longer in effect. Sustained traffic 00:06:08.379 --> 00:06:12.500 enforcement so that's a grant for the police so holiday traffic stops and 00:06:12.500 --> 00:06:19.620 safety related funding there so about 20,000 and I'll move down here to a few 00:06:19.620 --> 00:06:23.500 of these other ones. Liquor licenses we receive about a hundred thousand dollars 00:06:23.500 --> 00:06:29.740 in revenue each year for liquor licenses so approximately ten thousand dollars a 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:36.699 Peace, and we're we're receiving income from about 10 different establishments. 00:06:36.699 --> 00:06:42.939 Moving on down to construction and local and zoning permits about $200,000 a year 00:06:42.939 --> 00:06:53.019 in in those and we'll move down to 101 4620 Airport fuel sales. We're receiving 00:06:53.019 --> 00:07:01.539 about $190,000 a year in fuel sales, $46.70 down at the bottom, miscellaneous other charges 00:07:01.539 --> 00:07:06.219 for service, that is for grave openings and so forth, so we've got about $20,000 a year 00:07:06.219 --> 00:07:07.939 coming in from that. 00:07:07.939 --> 00:07:10.019 What is that from? 00:07:10.019 --> 00:07:15.419 That'd be the fees that we charge to open graves and inter people when they are interred 00:07:15.420 --> 00:07:16.420 at the Cemetery. 00:07:16.420 --> 00:07:32.259 Let's see here, fines, traffic, DUIs, ordinance and that, about $140,000 per year, so we're 00:07:32.259 --> 00:07:38.620 budgeting for that through the Circuit Clerk. 00:07:38.620 --> 00:07:47.019 down to 4730 city ordinance fines. We receive about $55,000 a year in ordinance violation fines, 00:07:47.019 --> 00:07:53.420 adjudication hearings, and so forth. If you don't mind, I'd like to move down to 00:07:54.060 --> 00:08:01.259 4020 water sewer in lieu of taxes. So this is paid from the water and sewer to the city as well as 00:08:01.259 --> 00:08:08.060 the next three water and sewer accountancy fee and the distribution to corporate fund. So these are 00:08:08.060 --> 00:08:17.180 are all the utility compensating the city for work related to those. 00:08:17.180 --> 00:08:22.199 And then interest income, we're budgeting about $900,000 in interest income. 00:08:22.199 --> 00:08:25.579 So this is the interest generated from all accounting funds. 00:08:25.579 --> 00:08:27.259 From all what? 00:08:27.259 --> 00:08:33.340 So this is the interest that we receive from all the accrued funds that are sitting in 00:08:33.340 --> 00:08:35.299 bank accounts. 00:08:35.299 --> 00:08:39.819 So we're generating about $900,000 in interest each year. 00:08:39.819 --> 00:08:46.579 And then transfer from Fund 32, that's $770,000. 00:08:46.579 --> 00:08:53.759 And that's from Fund 331, capital fire improvement, about 54% of the net ambulance revenues. 00:08:53.759 --> 00:09:05.620 So with that, our total revenue estimate or revenue budget for 2025 is $25,485,575. 00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:11.259 That is down slightly from 2024, but there are a few things that we don't have in here 00:09:11.259 --> 00:09:14.439 yet as I mentioned in the beginning. 00:09:14.439 --> 00:09:19.519 We have an update of the EAV calculations, so we'll see what happens with that. 00:09:19.519 --> 00:09:20.519 Yes, Joy? 00:09:20.519 --> 00:09:50.519 Excuse me. What is foreign? Is it sheriff or shift? What is that? What code is it? Which one are you looking at? 4705. What is that? Excuse me. Michelle would you like to comment on that one? I might ask Chief to because it comes from the circuit clerk's office. So we get several fees that come through the courts. I think it's maybe something about being served out of the county. 00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:53.039 or something like that, we get a fee. 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:57.799 Yeah, I honestly I wouldn't be able to tell you because I never get to see the money coming 00:09:57.799 --> 00:10:00.000 in, but if that's what you're saying... 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:03.399 but if that's what you're saying that could be the amounts that we put on 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:19.200 warrants when when we serve a warrant I had a couple questions with these zeros 00:10:19.200 --> 00:10:26.159 like the special event permit and fees right so those are gonna be so small we 00:10:26.159 --> 00:10:32.159 We're not 100% sure what we're going to receive and so we don't bother entering it. 00:10:32.159 --> 00:10:36.440 And the federal grant as well? 00:10:36.440 --> 00:10:38.159 Well federal grant ARPA is over. 00:10:38.159 --> 00:10:42.679 If you're referring to Fund 4356, that's no longer in effect. 00:10:42.679 --> 00:10:45.679 It's just a legacy left over from a couple years ago. 00:10:45.679 --> 00:10:46.679 Greg? 00:10:46.679 --> 00:10:47.679 Alderman Klemmler. 00:10:47.679 --> 00:10:56.320 McClendon, Greg, Holden, McClendon, Rob, could you tell us, you kind of went over it, 00:10:56.320 --> 00:11:08.240 but what is Fund 32, it's the one down next to the bottom, 4950, Ambulance, Ambulance, 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:09.240 okay. 00:11:09.240 --> 00:11:12.600 I'm gonna have the Chief go ahead and fill in on that one. 00:11:12.600 --> 00:11:18.559 It's the proceeds from ambulance billing and transports, whereas the city by ordinance 00:11:18.559 --> 00:11:23.480 takes 54% of that, so that represents that figure there. 00:11:23.480 --> 00:11:29.960 Thank you, we just donated to that, appreciate it, you guys did a great job, thank you. 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:33.920 Just didn't know what it was, sorry. 00:11:33.920 --> 00:11:39.480 I just would like to make a comment on that, I feel like we have to, we should be finding 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:17.839 and point a note we did make an extra contribution or we budgeted for a small 00:12:17.839 --> 00:12:27.440 the process of transferring that back in do you recall what that was Michelle on 00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:32.839 on the fun 32 transfer from pump fun 32 we reduced the amount of transfer by I 00:12:32.840 --> 00:12:39.319 I think about a hundred thousand dollars so that we can begin to make that kind 00:12:39.319 --> 00:12:43.980 of be in line with what Alderman Shadle mentioned. I know we're less than what we 00:12:43.980 --> 00:12:50.639 have budgeted this year, but it's it's truly based on the ordinance and there's 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:57.920 a set formula on how that's supposed to be done. 54% like you say comes back to 00:12:57.920 --> 00:13:01.680 the general fund. Another thought with that was the way that I've had with the 00:13:01.680 --> 00:13:08.799 and City Manager is perhaps that should be or a portion be earmarked for Public Works 00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:13.879 equipment because they are having the same problem as buyers having to about being able 00:13:13.879 --> 00:13:15.879 to replace those big trucks. 00:13:15.879 --> 00:13:16.879 Certainly. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:17.879 Good question. 00:13:17.879 --> 00:13:18.879 Thank you. 00:13:18.879 --> 00:13:19.879 Alderman Klein. 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:22.879 When was the ordinance changed? 00:13:22.879 --> 00:13:39.879 I thought, sorry, I thought the percentage was changed maybe back in 19 or so, but I would have to look it up, I'm sorry. 00:13:39.879 --> 00:13:47.879 Okay. Would you just for curiosity, thank you. 00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:57.879 I have a question. Can they repeat what the transfer from Fund 32 means? Because I don't understand it. Who was talking about it? 00:13:57.879 --> 00:14:01.879 Sure. Sure. Michelle, would you mind explaining that to me? 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:14.879 So Fund, it says 32, but it's 332 since we changed the new account, the new software. But 332 brings in all the ambulance revenue for the fire department. 00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:34.879 and some of the equipment needs for the fire department are expensed out of that department, out of that fund as well and there's an ordinance that exists on the codified ordinances that 54% of the net revenue generated in that fund comes back to the general fund. 00:14:34.879 --> 00:14:39.879 So that's what I'm doing because it's an ordinance, it's in stone. 00:14:39.879 --> 00:14:57.960 This money that's taken in, in this fund, is supposed to be used, as it was originally 00:14:57.960 --> 00:15:06.240 written, was supposed to be used for fire department apparatus, new trucks, as they 00:15:06.240 --> 00:15:07.240 come for need. 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:37.240 and I have a funding source for that and through the course of time some of that money, 54 percent, has been diverted from that fund into the general fund and I'm just saying that we need to, I feel we need to look at getting things back to keeping that money in the fund so that when these trucks do wear out that a quarter of a million dollars we're not borrowing 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:38.240 and others. 00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:42.079 So, we've got a lot of money that we've got the money saved for it. 00:15:42.079 --> 00:15:47.639 And I just feel that's something we need to put on our radar and revisit. 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.639 Okay. 00:15:48.639 --> 00:15:57.039 And do we know out of the 54 percent what that amount was, you know, so that I can kind 00:15:57.039 --> 00:16:00.960 of know what the 54 percent of that was that went into the general fund? 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:03.840 That it'd be the 7, 7, 8. 00:16:03.840 --> 00:16:04.840 Oh, okay. 00:16:04.840 --> 00:16:05.840 That went into the general fund? 00:16:05.840 --> 00:16:06.840 Yes. 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:36.840 May I add to that as well please? Absolutely. So, yes, Alderman Shadle is correct. It was intended for apparatus, but that's the Fire Department Capital Fund. It is also much broader used for that fund. It's also paying for Central Fire Station. It's paying for hose equipment, support equipment for the Fire Department. So that takes pressure off the 00:16:36.840 --> 00:17:02.840 and General Fund. So, within 332, it's accounted for apparatus, the large trucks, cars, ambulances, again, the stations, various lengths of hose, firefighting foam. So, everything that, a great deal of things that we need for operations, consumables, comes out of that fund. 00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:10.940 and then the 101 Fund, the general fund is largely for salaries and benefits. 00:17:10.940 --> 00:17:17.039 So we did do a study, an amortization study of what it would cost per year out of that 00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:23.980 fund to allow for replacement of apparatus and not having to finance anything. 00:17:23.980 --> 00:17:29.240 So if we started this year up until when all the other apparatus that we have need to be 00:17:29.240 --> 00:17:30.240 and others. 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.240 Thank you. 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:32.240 Thank you. 00:17:32.240 --> 00:17:33.240 Thank you. 00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:22.240 I just wanted to know what caused the change to make us do that? To take the 50% off and put it in the general fund? Why can't it just stay the way it was? 00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:28.240 We've been doing this as long as I've been here and that's 10 years. The ordinance goes back to 2008 originally. 00:18:28.240 --> 00:18:30.240 and 00:18:31.380 --> 00:18:33.380 John. 00:18:35.599 --> 00:18:38.039 So this isn't new. Maybe the percentage, it looks like the 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:43.799 percentage was changed just briefly from, you know, up to a 00:18:43.799 --> 00:18:49.799 higher percentage from 18 to 19, but otherwise it is the same. 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:53.799 Okay. Thank you, Alderman Shadle. 00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:56.799 That would be great if it were used and utilized in a manner 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:58.799 and 00:18:59.799 --> 00:19:01.799 Mr. 00:19:02.799 --> 00:19:04.799 Bates, and I'm going to say that we've been asking about this 00:19:05.799 --> 00:19:09.799 for almost four years now. This is on top of all of the funding 00:19:09.799 --> 00:19:11.799 that the fire department has already asked for out of the 00:19:11.799 --> 00:19:14.799 general fund this year. We've replaced a ladder truck, we've 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:18.799 replaced an engine, we've replaced three ambulances. Have we 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:21.799 not? And we've replaced a bunch of hose and other equipment. 00:19:21.799 --> 00:19:24.799 So it's important that we kind of put this into perspective 00:19:24.800 --> 00:19:30.720 Time, that we need to address. And by moving that money back into the fire department, 00:19:30.720 --> 00:19:36.160 it doesn't really free up money. It actually puts strain and stress on the other assets 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:40.620 of the city. So right now, we're already having problems with public works. We're having problems 00:19:40.620 --> 00:19:45.500 with the police department at times. And we have to replace a lot of equipment. That money 00:19:45.500 --> 00:19:51.900 is important, but it's not really a fire department slush fund. And that is something we need 00:19:51.900 --> 00:19:55.940 to avoid as we go through the coming years because look I mean we just got a 00:19:55.940 --> 00:19:59.340 new chief vehicle I mean I could go on and on and on the stuff that we've bought 00:19:59.340 --> 00:20:01.940 in the last four years. 00:20:01.940 --> 00:20:05.660 and on and on, the stuff that we've bought in the last four years. It's important. 00:20:05.660 --> 00:20:12.100 I was throwing it out there for future debate. Yeah. Well, that's fine. But, you know, the 00:20:12.100 --> 00:20:18.460 problem is, is it puts into perspective. We can debate that further when we debate it. 00:20:18.460 --> 00:20:21.580 I was just throwing the idea out there. Yeah. Well, I'm throwing a different idea out there. 00:20:21.580 --> 00:20:31.180 So. Hold on. Manager Boyer? Chief, would you like to speak to that point? Sure, if I may. 00:20:31.180 --> 00:20:37.000 We don't run fire apparatus on every ambulance call. Absolutely not. But when we do run fire 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:41.799 apparatus on ambulance calls, it's because we don't have enough ambulances in service. 00:20:41.799 --> 00:20:46.080 Our ambulances are already at the hospital. We're transporting somebody else. So somebody 00:20:46.080 --> 00:20:52.720 dials 911 and ambulance is not available. A paramedic staffed and equipped fire truck, 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:58.400 not the ladder truck, will go until an ambulance can free up from the hospital and respond 00:20:58.400 --> 00:21:03.759 Doe, Pick Up the Patient. But we cannot delay patient care, obviously, until an ambulance 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:09.160 gets in service. So, on the other rare occasion, some advanced... 00:21:09.160 --> 00:21:10.160 Rare? 00:21:10.160 --> 00:21:11.160 Pardon me? 00:21:11.160 --> 00:21:12.160 You said rare? 00:21:12.160 --> 00:21:18.720 On an occasion when, yes, rare for the ladder truck. 00:21:18.720 --> 00:21:21.720 I'm not saying ladder. I'm saying an engine. I didn't say ladder. 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:26.559 An engine will go when an ambulance is unavailable or, as I was saying, it's an advanced life 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:27.320 Boyer, and 00:21:27.320 --> 00:21:28.720 thank you all for your attention. 00:21:29.200 --> 00:21:34.480 As for the call for the call to advance life support call, full cardiac arrest, or bad 00:21:34.480 --> 00:21:38.960 trauma or something like that, two paramedics on an ambulance is not enough staffing, not 00:21:38.960 --> 00:21:44.080 enough manpower to address a critical, advanced life support call. 00:21:44.559 --> 00:21:47.920 We make that determination based on the call type that comes in. 00:21:48.720 --> 00:21:54.480 We're very conservative of what calls we send the fire apparatus on because of the wear and tear, 00:21:54.480 --> 00:22:01.240 Manager, Boyer. Okay. If there's no more questions on revenue, let's move on to 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:10.860 building. So would you be in favor of leaving it as it is or in not the general 00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:16.600 fund getting that 54%? Well, I see the merits both ways. Alderman 00:22:16.600 --> 00:22:23.840 Monroe is correct that by lessening the 54% contribution to the general fund, 00:22:23.840 --> 00:22:25.840 and 00:22:26.840 --> 00:22:28.840 John. 00:22:29.840 --> 00:22:33.840 I think the general fund would put more demands on the general 00:22:33.840 --> 00:22:37.840 fund to pay for salaries and benefits. However, it would 00:22:37.840 --> 00:22:41.840 better position the city and the fire department, because the 00:22:41.840 --> 00:22:45.840 fire department is part of the city, for future acquisitions. 00:22:45.840 --> 00:22:49.840 And when we replace this stuff, it's not because it's nice and 00:22:49.840 --> 00:23:18.960 and 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:24.240 In a perfect world, it would be great to be able to amortize more of that money, to save 00:23:24.240 --> 00:23:30.240 it for future expenditures, and not have to go out and borrow money and pay interest rates 00:23:30.240 --> 00:23:34.120 for that kind of purchase. 00:23:34.120 --> 00:23:40.840 But there's a limited amount of money that's available, so as elected officials, we have 00:23:40.840 --> 00:23:44.680 to use it, you have to determine to use it wisely. 00:23:44.680 --> 00:24:00.600 All right, let's move on to 101, 142, 6155 that's government buildings. 00:24:00.600 --> 00:24:11.759 So as far as this is mostly expenses in 2020 on this first one 6155 in 2024 we spent about 00:24:11.759 --> 00:24:21.759 135,000 fixing the windows so we could then replace the windows or put storm 00:24:21.759 --> 00:24:25.240 windows on this building. One of the biggest challenges here is keeping this 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:30.120 place heated due to the fact that it's all electric and the older windows 00:24:30.120 --> 00:24:33.920 because the historic building it's pretty drafty and they're only single 00:24:33.920 --> 00:24:42.440 Payne. So next year we're hoping to put storm windows on that are acceptable to 00:24:42.440 --> 00:24:48.480 the historic building folks and so anyway moving on. We have contracted 00:24:48.480 --> 00:24:52.000 equipment repair and maintenance for essentially for $50,000 that's 00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:56.480 essentially more more just some budget put there in case we have any more 00:24:56.480 --> 00:25:00.980 issues with the PD building. We're looking at other options for another PD 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:06.539 however at the current time we have to make what we have work until we are able 00:25:06.539 --> 00:25:13.460 to find and move into a new location so we've gone ahead and budgeted about 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:20.460 $50,000 for that. Obviously we've got natural gas, building supplies, janitorial 00:25:20.460 --> 00:25:25.140 and so forth, other and then we've got capital outlay and so that capital 00:25:25.140 --> 00:25:30.059 outlay there that $200,000 is for City Hall and the primary one being the storm 00:25:30.059 --> 00:25:38.880 Windows. Is the tuck point making it in this year or is that pushed off another 00:25:38.880 --> 00:25:42.640 year? We're gonna hold off on that one more year because I want to get, we just 00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:46.880 recently fixed, repainted, and cleaned all these windows on the outside. I want to 00:25:46.880 --> 00:25:51.039 get the storm windows put on so that's all preserved and doesn't flake off, you 00:25:51.039 --> 00:25:55.240 know, and peel and get weathered. So I want to kind of preserve that work. The 00:25:55.240 --> 00:25:59.519 tuck pointing is necessary. However, I think the windows are going to do two 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:07.519 and a few things. It's going to preserve the work that we invested in this year. It's also going to lower some of our costs in terms of heat, so without the drafty windows. 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:21.519 All right. With that, I'd like to move on to the Cemetery Care Fund. This one's pretty straightforward. 00:26:21.519 --> 00:26:31.519 We receive revenue in two forms in the Cemetery Care Fund. One is to grave and earn purchases and the other one is interest income. 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:41.519 So we're expecting about $9,200 in grave and earn purchases and that's just based on previous activity that could go up depending or down depending on the activity. 00:26:41.519 --> 00:26:46.579 and then as far as expenses contracted building repair and maintenance currently 00:26:46.579 --> 00:26:52.140 we don't have anything planned for cemetery in terms of for major repairs 00:26:52.140 --> 00:26:57.120 out there we've replaced all of the roofs on all of the mausoleums that need to be 00:26:57.120 --> 00:27:02.579 replaced and the garage is doing okay so there's really nothing we need to worry 00:27:02.579 --> 00:27:08.180 about in that regard so any questions on cemetery care fund? 00:27:08.180 --> 00:27:21.940 I do think it needs the fence that's facing Lincoln, it could get a nice paint job. 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:24.820 Okay, well I'm sure we can accommodate that. 00:27:24.820 --> 00:27:25.820 Creepy, yeah. 00:27:25.820 --> 00:27:26.820 Yeah, that's fine. 00:27:26.820 --> 00:27:29.820 I think it would look nice with a nice paint job or something. 00:27:29.820 --> 00:27:55.380 Okay with that we can move on to Neighborhood Housing Fund. So Neighborhood Housing Fund 00:27:55.380 --> 00:28:25.380 Revenue side starting with $4125. So this is a local tax from property transfer tax of $2 per 500 of consideration when buying a property. So we're receiving about $210,000 in revenue there. And then interest income of about $15,000. And then fund balance transfer. So plan on using the remainder of this fund here on the Neighborhood Housing Fund. Pretty much all we use this for is not 00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:29.460 All, but primarily this is used for demolitions. 00:28:29.460 --> 00:28:32.940 So if you see here in the expense items, 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:36.260 about $20,000 for economic development projects, 00:28:36.260 --> 00:28:39.860 and $605,000 for demolitions. 00:28:39.860 --> 00:28:43.059 The lion's share of that is for the planned demo 00:28:43.059 --> 00:28:44.099 of the union school. 00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:46.619 We're going to continue to look for grants on that. 00:28:46.619 --> 00:28:51.940 But we're going to go ahead and budget that for next year. 00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:53.619 So tear it down? 00:28:53.620 --> 00:28:58.560 Well, yes, it'll kind of come in two phases. One would be as best as remediation and then demo of the school. 00:29:01.120 --> 00:29:06.820 So will any of this also be for 00:29:08.200 --> 00:29:11.380 some more homes and stuff coming down also or 00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:13.580 this is what 00:29:13.580 --> 00:29:17.700 Union School is going to cost. Sure. Wayne, did you have any comments on that? 00:29:19.140 --> 00:29:22.860 On the neighborhood housing fund or any of these funds going to use for other demos? 00:29:23.620 --> 00:29:24.900 Besides the Union School. 00:29:24.900 --> 00:29:25.780 Well, sure, yes. 00:29:25.780 --> 00:29:29.180 It could be used for other initiatives. 00:29:29.180 --> 00:29:34.900 But I mean, we're looking at some pretty hefty budget items. 00:29:34.900 --> 00:29:37.620 So a typical house is going to cost anywhere from $15,000 00:29:37.620 --> 00:29:39.700 to $20,000 to demolish. 00:29:39.700 --> 00:29:43.900 And we're looking at right now anywhere from $2,000 to $250,000 00:29:43.900 --> 00:29:45.940 to demolish the Union School. 00:29:45.940 --> 00:29:50.300 So when we have money in the fund 00:29:50.300 --> 00:30:01.780 and we currently have we own the property staff thinks it's a good idea to have the money budgeted to demolish it because otherwise we're going to be preserving it I personally have 00:30:01.780 --> 00:30:13.780 I personally have walked through the building and I can tell you there's no hope for it being redeveloped and truly we should have the money budgeted here. 00:30:13.780 --> 00:30:19.780 Would it be nice to get a grant? Yes. Is the city going to work towards grant funds to demolish it? Yes. 00:30:19.780 --> 00:30:26.780 But I do think that the city should be prepared to demolish this structure. 00:30:26.780 --> 00:30:34.020 I know that this year we had that three hundred thousand for demos and then we 00:30:34.020 --> 00:30:41.380 also had what wasn't it some other money that came in that was going to be a 00:30:41.380 --> 00:30:45.860 grant or something so yeah so three hundred thousand dollars is a strong 00:30:45.860 --> 00:30:49.500 communities grant program that has to be residential housing so it has to be 00:30:49.500 --> 00:30:53.500 dilapidated actual residential properties the Union School is not going 00:30:53.500 --> 00:31:09.240 I just want to clarify, for that grant, because it's a former school, so anytime we're using the Strong Communities Grant Funds that's going to be for houses, duplexes, that's all that qualifies for that grant. 00:31:09.240 --> 00:31:18.320 I'd just like to know about how much do we have left in that grant, from what we've done this year? 00:31:18.320 --> 00:31:31.320 Probably end up with, when I, excuse me, when I end up requesting for a grant extension, there will probably end up being $50,000 not spent that I would be asking for an extension on, and that would be at the best case scenario. 00:31:31.320 --> 00:31:36.320 Right now I have, by the end of the year, I anticipate spending all that money. 00:31:36.320 --> 00:31:37.320 Okay. 00:31:37.320 --> 00:31:43.760 so unfortunately or fortunately how you look at it there's I have enough 00:31:43.760 --> 00:31:50.320 properties to put through that grant to use that money so just in residential 00:31:50.320 --> 00:31:57.240 vacant properties thank you and just my math on this shows that you take out the 00:31:57.240 --> 00:32:03.600 250 that you're budgeting for demolition of the Union School that's still leaving 00:32:03.600 --> 00:32:14.280 Yes, that would leave the same amount for demolishing houses, but in addition we're also working 00:32:14.280 --> 00:32:20.440 on taking down the hotel as well on 20th, so there's some bigger items there that we 00:32:20.440 --> 00:32:27.260 would like to have that money set aside in case we can move forward with that demolition. 00:32:27.260 --> 00:32:32.440 Another reason why it's beneficial for a community to purchase properties off the tax sale like 00:32:32.440 --> 00:32:36.440 Because we are a very big community with a very large community of workers that are working on the project. 00:32:36.440 --> 00:32:39.440 But these families are very, very busy right now. 00:32:39.440 --> 00:32:41.440 They are very busy. 00:32:41.440 --> 00:32:44.440 We have a very small number of families that are in need of care. 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:46.440 But this is a very big community. 00:32:46.440 --> 00:32:48.440 And there's a very big problem with that. 00:32:48.440 --> 00:32:52.440 And I just want to make sure that I get the general public and they don't have to see us. 00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:55.440 But we are doing a very good job of getting everyone in. 00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:58.440 I'm going to ask the question to the board member. 00:32:58.440 --> 00:33:28.440 Miller, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor, Mayor 00:33:28.440 --> 00:33:32.500 We keep ending up with all these properties and having to pay to tear them down ourselves. 00:33:32.500 --> 00:33:39.240 Why aren't we holding previous owners accountable for this and going after them? 00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:40.240 Sure. 00:33:40.240 --> 00:33:46.700 Well, I mean, at some point what ends up happening here is it's going after bad credit, right? 00:33:46.700 --> 00:33:47.760 They just stop paying. 00:33:47.760 --> 00:33:50.960 So we do take them through their admin court. 00:33:50.960 --> 00:33:55.140 We do eventually, any of these properties that are being forced into demolition, they 00:33:55.140 --> 00:33:59.820 to get what's known as a chronic nuisance and they start accruing bad debt on them, okay? 00:33:59.820 --> 00:34:06.660 So they know they own a bad property, they're receiving the violations, and eventually the 00:34:06.660 --> 00:34:10.920 city's saying, look, they're not fixing the property, they're not paying for it, it's 00:34:10.920 --> 00:34:15.300 a public nuisance, and that's the last step is to demolish it. 00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:17.880 And we're saying, I'll answer that question. 00:34:17.880 --> 00:34:26.600 We do file a lien on the property and we do go to bill collections but if they're not paying, 00:34:26.600 --> 00:34:27.600 they're not paying. 00:34:27.600 --> 00:34:30.440 It's a bad debt at some point, if that makes sense. 00:34:30.440 --> 00:34:35.320 So when we tear down the building, yes, there's a lien on that property. 00:34:35.320 --> 00:34:39.280 But we just tore the person's property down, odds are they're not going to end up paying 00:34:39.280 --> 00:34:40.920 on that bad debt. 00:34:40.920 --> 00:34:41.980 Follow-up. 00:34:41.980 --> 00:34:46.520 So this is a consistent problem that's been going on for many years and it's not just 00:34:46.520 --> 00:34:47.520 Fowler. 00:34:47.520 --> 00:34:48.520 We have a lot of people who have worked with an individual bad debtor. 00:34:48.520 --> 00:34:51.720 It is actually the people before that. 00:34:51.720 --> 00:34:57.860 Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times both ran articles about local landowners here in Freeport 00:34:57.860 --> 00:35:03.280 many years ago who were basically buying properties, running them into the ground, and then dumping 00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:05.480 them on people that couldn't afford it. 00:35:05.480 --> 00:35:12.360 Those people knew that these properties were in this manner, and we continue to go ahead 00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:13.360 and do it. 00:35:13.360 --> 00:35:17.560 and I think that's costing us over a period of ten years millions and millions of dollars. 00:35:17.560 --> 00:35:22.440 And I think somebody needs to be held accountable for this and it needs to stop or we need to 00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:28.160 put an ordinance in place that says you know what, why are we letting them sell them is 00:35:28.160 --> 00:35:30.440 a million dollar question. 00:35:30.440 --> 00:35:36.520 If I could just jump in on this one Alderman Monroe, we do occupy a special role which is 00:35:36.520 --> 00:35:41.960 we can go after and receive grant money that we can then go and acquire these properties, 00:35:41.960 --> 00:35:55.960 We're budgeting for this this year because we're budgeting for it. We own it. We want to get it down. However, we're going to look after all kinds of other ways to fund this that doesn't take money out of the city's back pocket. 00:35:55.960 --> 00:36:07.960 But at the end of the day, if there's no other choice, then we've at least budgeted for it. So I just want you to know that right at the end of the day, we are the ones, we're basically the ones that end up getting stuck with these properties. 00:36:07.960 --> 00:36:16.960 I think there's going to be a further conversation with other folks on this particular one, but it's not something I can really get into at this time. 00:36:16.960 --> 00:36:23.960 But I will say we're going to pursue other opportunities to at minimum defray the city's expenses related to this. 00:36:23.960 --> 00:36:27.960 So we will be pursuing those options. 00:36:27.960 --> 00:36:31.960 What do you mean, pursuing those options? 00:36:31.960 --> 00:36:34.960 I'll be happy to talk offline about it. 00:36:34.960 --> 00:37:04.960 You know, whether it's going out and receiving grant funding to help us take these things down or opening up a conversation with other units of government, I think we'll be opening up those discussions, but we've got to budget for it if we want to get it down within the next year, and it's a huge nuisance, it provides safety concerns for the people in the community, and so we're going to seek as many other resources as possible, but in the meantime, at least we've got it budgeted, 00:37:04.960 --> 00:37:06.680 Begin the process of getting rid of it 00:37:06.680 --> 00:37:12.560 I think I speak for a lot of people in Freeport a huge nuisance is the second highest taxes in the in the country 00:37:12.560 --> 00:37:15.600 as far as property taxes go that's a huge nuisance and 00:37:16.320 --> 00:37:22.039 It's hurting our growth and our potential to grow back. That's six hundred five thousand dollars. I could have gone to something else 00:37:28.200 --> 00:37:30.560 Okay with that I'd like to move on to tourism fund 00:37:30.560 --> 00:38:00.560 So our revenue on this fund is hotel motel tax, approximately $280,000 and it earns about $5,000 a year in interest, so this is a local tax remitted to the City of Freeport, it's 5% on hotel stays, on the expense side about $248,000 goes to our Economic Development Agency, GFP and then we also have some miscellaneous 00:38:00.560 --> 00:38:01.560 and others. 00:38:01.560 --> 00:38:05.700 So we've got the expenses related to some of the downtown events and then also we've 00:38:05.700 --> 00:38:11.000 got the transfer out to general fund to pay for the part of the communication directors 00:38:11.000 --> 00:38:15.480 salary. 00:38:15.480 --> 00:38:19.240 Any questions on the Tourism Fund? 00:38:19.240 --> 00:38:21.240 No. 00:38:21.240 --> 00:38:23.240 Okay. 00:38:23.240 --> 00:38:35.039 All right with that let's move to debt service fund. So in this particular fund 00:38:35.039 --> 00:38:41.200 we're transferring in funds from the General Fund to pay for our debt 00:38:41.200 --> 00:38:49.560 service. So we'll be bringing in about 3.4 million dollars for the 2016 City 00:38:49.560 --> 00:38:59.400 Hall, and 2020 Pension Bonds to support the payment of those. Also transferring in $120,000 to pay 00:38:59.400 --> 00:39:09.880 for the 2015A bond, which is library, and then the transfer in for streets, which is $477,000. That's 00:39:09.880 --> 00:39:19.000 for the payment on bonds 2019A and 2021. Both of those funded street repairs in the city and 00:39:19.000 --> 00:39:49.000 they are paid for with the $2 that you pay in your water bill. Transfer in for the TIF, you got $112,000 that's paying for the 2018 and 2015A bonds and then transfer in from the Fire Improvement Fund that's $340,000 that pays for 2013A that's the Central Fire Station and the 2022 aerial fire truck so and I'm kind of 00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:55.000 I'm going to repeat myself here through the expenses, but you've got two million going for the City Hall Bond, 00:39:55.000 --> 00:40:02.000 270,000 going to the Fire Improvement Fund. That's, as I mentioned, for the Fire Improvement Fund. 00:40:02.000 --> 00:40:08.039 that's as I mentioned for the fire truck, 88,000 going to the library to pay for 00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:18.760 the library bond, 365,000 going for the street bond, 81,000 for TIF principal, 00:40:18.760 --> 00:40:26.239 then we've got interest of 1.4 million for City Hall, 70 for Fire Improvement 00:40:26.239 --> 00:40:36.719 Library, 31,000, Streets is 112, and TIFF is 31,000. So any questions on that? 00:40:36.719 --> 00:40:38.719 Alderman Sellers. 00:40:38.719 --> 00:40:42.719 Yes, I'd like to know how many bonds you got for the library? 00:40:42.719 --> 00:40:46.719 I'm sorry. How many bonds do you have for the library? 00:40:46.719 --> 00:40:48.719 Michelle, could you make sure, could you go ahead? 00:40:48.719 --> 00:41:01.719 We just have one, and it's the 2015 A1. It's pretty old. It's just a small portion of that bond. It's still paying for the library. 00:41:01.719 --> 00:41:09.719 So what you're seeing there is the principal and interest payments. They appear separately, but it's so you can tell the difference, how much we're paying for principal, how much we're paying for interest. 00:41:09.719 --> 00:41:14.719 Okay. So the interest was the 88? 00:41:14.719 --> 00:41:22.079 8080. Excuse me, Alderperson, Stacy, could you please pull your microphone down? That 00:41:22.079 --> 00:41:26.920 helps with the people that are here, the people that aren't here, and then we type the minutes 00:41:26.920 --> 00:41:34.360 from that. So please remember to speak into the microphone. Sorry. I was asking if the 00:41:34.360 --> 00:41:42.360 and I, and the 88,800 was interest from the 2015 bond. 00:41:42.360 --> 00:41:44.360 No, that is principal. 00:41:44.360 --> 00:41:47.360 Principal. 00:41:47.360 --> 00:41:49.360 And so where's the interest? 00:41:49.360 --> 00:41:51.360 It's item 8075. 00:41:51.360 --> 00:41:53.360 The 31? 00:41:53.360 --> 00:41:55.360 31,000, yes. 00:41:55.360 --> 00:41:57.360 It's interest alone. 00:41:57.360 --> 00:42:03.360 Yep. 00:42:03.360 --> 00:42:11.079 with that I'd like to move on to the health care fund so this fund manages 00:42:11.079 --> 00:42:16.480 the health care expenses for the city employees and retirees we anticipate a 00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:21.119 1.8 percent increase in medical insurance expense and 6.8 in dental 00:42:21.119 --> 00:42:29.440 insurance so the revenue comes in through individual contributions about 00:42:29.440 --> 00:42:36.480 about 471,000, also various, you've got the police and fire contributions of various levels 00:42:36.480 --> 00:42:45.800 and AFSCME, then you've got employer share, so the employees contribute 2.3 million, and 00:42:45.800 --> 00:42:53.360 then the retirees contribute 192,000, so your total revenue there is 3.1 million, then your 00:42:53.360 --> 00:43:01.360 Your expenses going out, you've got Voluntary Life Premium, $7,600, Vision, $4,500, Retiree 00:43:01.360 --> 00:43:11.840 Premium is $305,000, and then $2.8 for Employee Premiums. 00:43:11.840 --> 00:43:17.199 Any questions on the Health Care Fund? 00:43:17.199 --> 00:43:47.199 Okay with that I'd like to move on to the Landfill Closure Fund. This is one of the requests from our auditor is we need to start contributing. Right now it shows as a debt basically and we're trying to contribute every year to fully fund that Landfill Closure Fund. It's not something we can do all at once but we are taking steps to make sure that those funds are there when we need them. 00:43:47.199 --> 00:43:53.800 off into the future when the landfill actually closes. So on the revenue side we are transfer, 00:43:53.800 --> 00:44:00.280 the transfer station rents about $29,000 so that's the money we receive from Gills to run the 00:44:00.280 --> 00:44:07.480 transfer station and then we've got a solar lease we'll be receiving about $11,000 from Amoresco or 00:44:07.480 --> 00:44:14.320 whoever the eventual owner will be there. Then we get another $30,000 interest and then we also 00:44:14.320 --> 00:44:21.639 also transferred another $500,000 from General Fund and then on the expense side, so Contracted 00:44:21.639 --> 00:44:25.519 Infrastructure Repair and Maintenance about $150,000. 00:44:25.519 --> 00:44:32.400 This is basically to maintain the IEPA requirements and then we've got the Landfill Closure Expense 00:44:32.400 --> 00:44:38.679 so this is for monitoring the landfill itself. 00:44:38.679 --> 00:44:41.679 So any questions on Landfill Closure Fund? 00:44:41.679 --> 00:44:44.519 Just the solar lease again. 00:44:44.519 --> 00:44:47.960 So earlier this year, we've been moving forward 00:44:47.960 --> 00:44:51.599 with installing solar panels on the landfill cap of Landfill 00:44:51.599 --> 00:44:53.360 2 and 3. 00:44:53.360 --> 00:44:55.679 And as part of that agreement, we 00:44:55.679 --> 00:44:58.400 receive not only the maintenance, 00:44:58.400 --> 00:45:00.480 we will no longer have to maintain the mowing 00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:02.720 in that on Landfill 2 and 3, but this is also 00:45:02.720 --> 00:45:04.559 an outright payment annually that we'll 00:45:04.559 --> 00:45:07.599 receive from Amoresco for the use of that property. 00:45:10.239 --> 00:45:11.199 Did I get that right? 00:45:11.679 --> 00:45:20.800 any other questions all right with that I'd like to move on to health and 00:45:20.800 --> 00:45:32.559 environmental funds this is a garbage collection so the 14,500 is Gills 00:45:32.559 --> 00:45:38.760 reimbursement for property taxes on the transfer station also we receive 2.6 00:45:38.760 --> 00:46:08.760 6 million in recycling fees and waste collection fees, we get about $25,000 in income and the fund balance transfer is about $360,000 so this is $300 is to fund a special bulky waste pickup and $25,000 that was one of the things that we talked about as far as being able to help keep people from dumping in town so we're budgeting for about $300,000 to have 00:46:08.760 --> 00:46:13.559 the ability to set dumpsters out and have folks fill them up. 00:46:13.559 --> 00:46:16.760 Bad debt expense, about $20,000. 00:46:16.760 --> 00:46:21.840 Disposal and recycling, we're kicking out about $2.9. 00:46:21.840 --> 00:46:29.400 And then real estate and revenue collection services are about $30,000. 00:46:29.400 --> 00:46:31.199 Any questions on garbage collection? 00:46:31.199 --> 00:46:32.760 Alderman Sowers. 00:46:32.760 --> 00:46:52.260 Yes, Rob, I guess you kind of, when you were talking, your voice started high and then it was really low and I couldn't hear what the end of the fund balance, you said something about recycle dumpsters, helping stop dumping and dumpsters, I didn't hear that story. 00:46:52.260 --> 00:46:57.900 We're budgeting $300,000 for bulky Waste Pickup for 2025. 00:46:57.900 --> 00:47:01.260 So it's just a measure that, you know, 00:47:01.260 --> 00:47:04.739 we talked about trash busters and that type of thing. 00:47:04.739 --> 00:47:05.380 Oh, OK. 00:47:05.380 --> 00:47:06.019 I don't know. 00:47:06.019 --> 00:47:07.900 It's not exactly trash busters, but it's 00:47:07.900 --> 00:47:09.179 something along the lines that'll 00:47:09.179 --> 00:47:10.460 help keep our streets cleaner. 00:47:10.460 --> 00:47:11.779 Yeah. 00:47:11.779 --> 00:47:14.860 Thank you. 00:47:14.860 --> 00:47:16.539 Any other questions on the garbage? 00:47:16.539 --> 00:47:25.659 All right and we're down to our last one for tonight. Downtown Loan Fund. So the 00:47:25.659 --> 00:47:30.820 Downtown Loan Fund, we receive about five thousand in interest and the fund 00:47:30.820 --> 00:47:35.980 balance transfer is about forty thousand. Right now Mahoney is repaying on a 00:47:35.980 --> 00:47:46.579 of Downtown, Lone. So that's essentially where we're at with that one. Other than 00:47:46.579 --> 00:48:01.139 that, are there any questions? Okay. Any further discussion? Seeing none, we have public 00:48:01.139 --> 00:48:13.199 comments if there's any on seeing none I take a motion for adjournment motion by 00:48:13.199 --> 00:48:20.840 My partner seconded by Sellers. All in favor? Aye. Aye. Opposed?