My Take on the Plainfield 2019 Budget

Knowing I would be traveling in early May I submitted proposed budget reductions to the Council Finance Committee at the end of April.  They totaled just over $500,000 also taking into account my proposed increases for the Library and seasonal recreation employees.  This blog post puts me on the record for my position on the city budget.  It was the will of the Council Finance committee to not accept my proposed budget amendments.  Had I been present at the Council meeting (I tried unsuccessfully to call in) I would have voted no on the budget that was approved.  The exception was Ashley Davis' no vote.  She has shown herself to be an independent voice on the Council.

P.S. my questions at the bottom were answered.

Proposed budget amendments - Cory Storch

line item			admin #		proposed #		difference		comments
Mayors dues			8000		6000		2000
Council travel			9500		4000		5500
Council consulting			5000		2000		3000
Council conference			8000		4000		4000
Council travel			6000		4000		2000
Insurance  flood			15000		10000		5000		was 8800 in 2018
Insurance  auto			1205000		1105000		100000		reduced to what was requested; similar to 2018
nsurance dental			133991		120000		13991		highest expenditure in 5 years is 120K, most years around 65K
Insurance opt out	opt out		180000		170000		10000		still higher than last 5 years
Corporation Counsel			100000		75000		25000		same as 2018
Finance consulting			75000		20000		55000		requested 50K; under 20K since 2015
Comptroller overtime			12038		0		12038		not used since 2014
Audit control training			2500		1500		1000		1500 was requested
Audit control miscellaneous			5000		3000		2000		most years around 3K
Centralized community initiatives			13000		6000		7000		5300 last year, 4000 previous year
postage			58000		50000		8000		still moe than 2018 - 48000
Health office equip			2500		2000		500		average 1250 last two years
Community Dev emerg. Housing			6000		4000		2000		still more than last 2 years combined
Social Services consulting			500		0		500		never spent in this line
Social Services travel			1000		500		500		never spent in this line
DPW conference			3500		1000		2500		most years around 1K
DPW overtime			240000		200000		40000		never over 179000 since 2014
Egnineering consulting			120000		100000		20000		most years under 100K
Inspections acting pay			3022		1500		1522		management should cover this cost from savings in other lines
Inspections equip maint			5000		4000		1000		most years under 700
Inspections conference			5000		3500		1500		2389 last year
Senior seasonal workers			6000		3000		3000		never used in last 5 years
Fire overtime			765000		740000		25000		Management hasn’t made good on past goals
Fire bottled water			5500		3000		2500		839 in 2018
Fire med supplies			3000		2000		1000		2172 in 2018
Police overtime			931000		765000		166000		Management hasn’t made good on past goals
Police holiday pay			220000		205000		15000		last years cost
spot shotter			184000		184000		0		132000 last year; why a big increase?
Youth Council			15000		10000		5000		2K in 2018
Environmental Commission			1000		0		1000		never implemented
Natl Night Out			5000		2000		3000		spent 750 ini 2018
Total reductions			4358051		3811000		547051
Library					30000
Recreation seasonal					10000
Total increases					40000		40000
Grand total							-507051
Questions
Court special services			what is it
City Employment			what is it
Telephone			why is it budgeted higher
Bond Anticipation Notes			why is over 220000 higher
Notes Interest			why 331000 higher
Police Radios			explain
Cap Grant Cancellation			what is it
SS			explain the increase
PERS			explain the increase
PFRS			explain athe increase
Reserve for Uncollected TAXes			explain the difference between amounts requested and reccommended