Timberlake finance committee reviews draft 2025 budget, flags pay and contract cost pressures

The Village of Timberlake Finance Committee reviewed a draft 2025 budget Oct. 8, focusing on conservative revenue estimates, rising contract costs and proposed modest pay increases, Chair Jerry Joyce said.

The Fiscal Officer, Mr. Roskos, told the committee that staff are using cautious revenue projections for next year. "We are estimating revenue in the General Fund at approximately $702,386 versus the $657,500 as estimated for 2024," he said, and noted year-to-date 2024 receipts of $740,902 that include $18,519 in insurance recovery from August storm expenses. He added that interest income and income-tax receipts could come in higher depending on market conditions.

The spending side of the draft shows proposed General Fund appropriations of $741,924.25 for 2025, compared with $765,217.96 in 2024; the 2024 figure incorporates additional appropriations approved during the year, Mr. Roskos said. He pointed to several line-item changes that drive cost pressure, including higher contractual charges for the Fire Rescue contract with the City of Eastlake and the Lake County dispatch contract. The LEADS service fee is rising to $250 per month, and the budget raises the corresponding line to $4,000 from $2,000.

Committee members also discussed contingency appropriations for engineering and sidewalk design fees in case a Laketran design grant is not received, and a playground-construction appropriation that would be used if the Village secures a grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.

Councilors questioned several specific line items. The committee confirmed there is one authentication key for each police officer and that operating-supplies spending is lower in 2025 because 2024 included one-time purchases—shotguns, AR-15s, ammunition and radios—with radio upgrades expected to be funded largely from ARPA. The committee also discussed fidelity-bond premiums for signatories, accounting software fees (UAN), a planned computer and printer replacement in February 2025, and election expenses that come out of Real Estate Settlement funds for off-cycle elections.

The Village has not yet included an appropriation for sanitary-sewer invoices from the City of Eastlake; Mr. Roskos said the Village receives roughly $27,000 per year into the Sanitary Sewer Fund while other usage fees are remitted from LCDU to Eastlake. The committee said it plans to meet with Eastlake to discuss the invoices and may seek outside advice.

On personnel costs, the committee discussed wage adjustments for Police and Service department staff. The draft budgeters estimated that a $1-per-hour increase across affected positions would cost about $10,000. Committee member Kevin Thompson said he favors "smaller/gradual increases" rather than occasional larger raises. The committee also discussed a 2.5–3.5% increase for the Fiscal Officer and adding $60 per meeting for the Secretary of Council; the Fiscal Officer suggested consolidating compensation by adding the Secretary-of-Council pay to the Fiscal Officer's salary rather than creating two separate positions. A 3% increase for Police and Service departments, including the chief, was discussed and estimated to raise personnel expenses by about $10,000. Social Security, Medicare and other fringe impacts were noted but not quantified.

On timeline and next steps, Mr. Thompson asked when the Council can make recommendations; staff said recommendations can be made at a meeting and that First Reading on pay changes and the budget is scheduled for Oct. 15. With no further business, Chair Jerry Joyce moved to adjourn; Mrs. Marra seconded and the committee adjourned at 6:42 p.m.

The committee will bring the draft budget and any recommended pay changes to the Council during the Oct. 15 First Reading for further consideration.