After Tuesday’s meeting the Effingham City Council looks to be set to approve the City’s budget for Fiscal Year 2017. Last month the Council held a workshop to put together a tentative budget. That budget was then posted for public review in City Hall. To give the public a chance to comment on the tentative budget plan, Tuesday’s meeting opened with a public hearing, during which no objections or concerns were raised. The Council later discussed the budget themselves, and will no vote on its approval at the April 19th meeting. The proposed budget comes in balanced at $76,645,390. The budget meets all debt service and reserve requirements.
The Council also discussed a resolution to establish a five-year capital improvement plan for fiscal years 2017 through 2021. The five year plan includes $61,900,885 in projects. There are $19 million in capital improvements in the budget for the upcoming FY17.
In other action, the Council the job description for the position of Assistant Fire Chief. This resolution also included the posting of the opening. A committee will be formed to fill the position.
The Council also improved agreements with the Effingham Firefighters Association Local No. 3084 and the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police Telecommunicators. The agreements are each for three years and include a yearly 3% cost of living increase.
The Council also heard from Amanda McKay, representing the Noon Rotary. McKay spoke to the Council about Noon Rotary taking over the City’s Fourth of July Fireworks. This includes plans by the noon rotary to host a festival on July 3rd and 4th. McKay requested funding support from the council in the amount of $15,000 for the fireworks display and $5,000 for the festival. The Council appeared favorable to offering financial support to the Rotary for their Fourth of July plans.