Cherry Valley council eyes $8,618 transfer to balance street fund, sets aside $1,200 for ball‑field insurance and $15,000 for part‑time staff

Cherry Valley councilors reviewed the draft 2026 budget and agreed on an approach to close a projected street‑fund gap while reserving money for a new ball‑field insurance premium and additional part‑time staffing.

Staff reported a general‑fund surplus of about $24,979 in the draft budget and a street‑fund shortfall of roughly $8,618. Councilors indicated it made sense to transfer $8,618 from the general fund to the street fund to balance the street budget, leaving approximately $16,361 available for other needs.

Council members and staff discussed a newly anticipated insurance premium tied to the recently added ball field. Staff estimated that premium at roughly $1,200 annually and councilors agreed it should be included in next year’s expense estimates.

After accounting for the street transfer and the insurance premium, the council identified about $15,000 that could be used for part‑time staffing. One working proposal discussed in the meeting was to allocate 500 hours of street mowing at $12 per hour (about $6,000) and use the remaining roughly $9,000 for additional police part‑time hours to cover weekends and other needs. Councilors noted limits on part‑time hours (generally to avoid regularly exceeding 30 hours per week, which can trigger benefit obligations) and discussed flexible scheduling across street and police duties.

Participants reviewed part‑time pay rates recorded in the budget draft: street part‑time at $12 per hour; police part‑time figures discussed included $17 per hour for Sid Pinley and $15 per hour for Brandon Clark and Ellen Haggler. The budget also includes scheduled 2.8% salary increases reflected in staff estimates.

Stacy Bent, the staff member who presented the budget numbers, told the council she would “make these numbers work on the budget,” and staff will circulate an adjusted draft for formal approval next month. No formal vote on the full 2026 budget was taken that night; councilors chose to direct staff to update figures and return with a final proposal at the next meeting.

Councilors also agreed to retain a portion of the surplus in a miscellaneous general‑fund line item to preserve flexibility for reallocating funds to street or police needs as actual costs become clearer.

The council adjourned after confirming the path forward on the budget timeline and seasonal greetings were exchanged.