Village Creates a “Wish List” for the 2012 Budget

During Thursday’s Budget Planning meeting, the village board discussed something out of the ordinary: a wish list.

The village has currently budgeted to spend nearly $5.3 million of the tax levy.  However, officials say the levy limit is around $5.5 million meaning there are available funds for other necessities in the village.

Both the Village Board and the head of each department made a “wish list,” or requests to be considered by the board during the planning process.  During Thursday's meeting, the board reviewed the requests with the department heads in attendance to answer any questions.

The items were listed in order of priority in the budget, with an 11-foot lawn mower for the public works department at the very top of the list. The mower is priced at $47,000.

The public works team currently has a 16-foot mower that’s said to break down at any moment. Purchasing a new lawn mower of that size is nearly $100,000.  However, purchasing two 11-foot mowers would not only cover more ground for the same price, but also provide an additional mower if one needs maintenance. The department suggested buying one this year, and another in a couple years.

The board also discussed a request made by Amy Jeske, Director of . She said one of the goals for the rec department is to increase senior programming. Jeske suggested hiring a part time employee who would work eight hours a week at $12 an hour, totaling $5,000 annually. This person would alleviate some pressure on Megan Sackett, the Program Director.

In addition, Jeske suggested sending event brochures from the Sussex Recreation Department to everyone in Lisbon, Lannon and part of Richfield, costing $4,400 for printing and mailing. Those communities don’t have strong rec departments meaning there’s a possibility of attracting more people and revenue to Sussex events.

Other requests made include:

• A replacement one-ton truck
• Miscellaneous furniture for the
• Color copier for the Community Center
• Permanent grills at parks
• New election and balloting equipment
• A second TNT Power Unit used by the Fire Department to cut open things like totaled cars
• A heavy-duty grappling claw for the front-end loader to remove things like fallen down trees
• Stump grinder
• Lawn sprayer
• Village vehicle

The village is also looking to increase the budget for road salt from $80,000 to $100,000.

However, the number one concern the village hears from residents is about weed control. The operations department currently sprays the athletic fields, and the islands that run between lanes on Highway 164. Residents usually call to complain about other parks being full of weeds.

The village said they won’t chemically spray the other Sussex parks. If residents want to see those areas weed-free, they should gather the neighborhood homeowner’s association, collect money and donate it to the village for the cost.

The village board is hoping to get the final decisions on the “wish list” made during the October 13 meeting with a possibility of it spilling over into the October 27 meeting.