City produces balanced 2017-18 budget

Milford City Council unanimously adopted the City’s 2017-18 municipal budget during the June 12, 2017 City Council meeting. The $42,802,504 spending plan covers the General Fund and Enterprise Funds (Water, Electric, Solid Waste and Wastewater) from July 1, 2017 through June 30, 2018 and includes no increase in property taxes.

“I am pleased that we have once again passed a balanced budget with no property tax increase,” stated Mayor Bryan Shupe. “The city council and I recognize that there are many individuals and families with tight budgets and small businesses that are struggling to grow in this economy, so it is important for the City to operate frugally as well.”

The proposed 2017-18 was thoroughly reviewed by city council over two successive nights of budget review workshop meetings last week. Staff in all departments have worked to identify opportunities to operate with increased efficiency (e.g. greater use of purchasing cooperatives, installation of energy efficiency measures, replacement of the outdated systems and equipment and use of contracted services). “The current fiscal condition of the city is stable. In particular, the utility reserve funds are healthy,” noted City Manager Eric Norenberg. “I am proud of our City workforce and their commitment to careful stewardship of our financial resources.”

Key items in the budget include:

– Two replacement Police patrol vehicles
– Trailer-mounted spray patching machine for pothole patching and alley repairs
– Replacement pick-up truck with plow for Parks maintenance
– Electric Pole replacements for the distribution system reliability
– Replacement Solid Waste collection vehicle for safe and efficient collection of trash and recyclables
– Replacement of 10- to 20-year old trash, recycling, yard waste containers
– Replacement street sweeper
– Garage renovations at the Armory site to support Parks maintenance operations
– Pavement resurfacing at various locations and the use of interns to conduct pavement assessments for future pavement maintenance plans
– City funding to match a grant request to replace the Riverwalk decking

Also, in FY17-18, the City plans the following major capital improvement projects:

– Replacement of deteriorated curb on Southeast Second Street in advance of DelDOT repaving
– Southeast Second Street sewer line and water line rehab in advance of DelDOT repaving
– Shawnee Acres pump station upgrade
– Replacement of Northeast/Northwest Front Street sewer line and water line in advance of DelDOT repaving

In addition, as previously approved, an electric rate decrease recently took effect this month and a 50-cent increase in the monthly Solid Waste fee will go into effect in July. Also, most non-union city employees will receive a pay increase based on three percent the midpoint of their salary range.

The annual budget document serves a number of purposes for the city. First, the budget provides the citizens of Milford with information regarding the operations of the city government and details on how public funds will be utilized throughout the community. It is also used as a managerial tool by the city manager, police chief and the city’s department heads. The annual spending plan not only serves as a monitoring tool of revenues and expenses for the various departments, but as a means of evaluation to ensure public resources are used in the most effective and efficient manner.

In June, randomly selected households will receive a resident survey and later this summer the city will begin developing a strategic plan. Resident participation in both will help provide guidance for the development of future years’ budgets for the city of Milford.