Joint finance panels review 2025 budget, debate composting, event spending and vehicle leases

The Joint Finance Committee and Lay Finance Committee of University Heights met Dec. 11 to review the city’s proposed 2025 budget, hearing department requests and pressing staff for line‑item detail ahead of a council vote.

Committee Chair Michele Weiss led a line‑by‑line review that ranged from staffing restores in Building and Housing to a proposed universal composting program, the frequency and cost of the Mosaic newsletter, and several capital items including vehicle leasing and a needed fire‑station roof replacement. Finance Director Dennis Kennedy said the administration will circulate updated revenue and appropriation adjustments before the draft goes to full council.

“Ms. Davis had nothing to report,” Weiss said while reviewing Building and Housing; the committee discussed filling two administrative assistant roles and one housing‑inspector vacancy and restoring a housing and community development coordinator position that is contingent on a future salary‑ordinance amendment.

Communications staff reported modest increases for the Mosaic community magazine and for mass email services. Mike Cook described the city’s arrangement with publisher CJN that includes layout and ad sales and noted a $1,000 budget line for mass email services. Cook said the Yodel community app currently shows roughly 200 users and that staff recommended promoting the app only if the council commits continued funding.

Sustainability and community relations drew extended scrutiny. Staff provided a $42,498 breakdown tied to sustainability activities — including $22,500 for universal drop‑off composting, $38,000 for approved bike‑rack purchases (a carryover), and smaller allocations for recycling postcards and a sustainable‑home fair. Council Member John Rach pressed staff to explain why summary lines did not match itemized totals; community relations staff and finance said some amounts were carryovers and that Kennedy would clarify the line items in the revised packet.

On composting, staff proposed a model similar to neighboring communities: the city would cover subscription costs for residents who sign up with a vendor such as Rust Belt Riders. Council members pushed back, noting low current opt‑in rates and asking for concrete participation estimates and a vendor cost/benefit analysis before committing general‑fund dollars. Mayor Michael Dylan Brennan noted Rust Belt Riders had reported more than 271 tons diverted from landfill in 2023 from the three existing drop‑off containers serving the city.

Public‑works and service items included a discussion of vehicle replacement vs. leasing: the service director advised delaying a grapple truck purchase and prioritized a leased garbage truck if only one can be funded now. Pennington also confirmed the city ordered 900 recycling carts (700 large, 200 small) and said about 540–550 households had opted into the program so far; the committee discussed more frequent opt‑in windows or a tiered purchase schedule to better match demand and inventory timing.

The committee also revisited the city’s bulky‑pickup fee. Pennington recommended increasing the flat pickup charge (currently $10) to $20–$25 to better cover operator time and landfill costs; council members suggested a middle ground or tiered structure and directed service staff to return with options.

Fire Department leadership told the committee the station roof had chronic leaks and that two vendor quotes recommended full replacement at roughly $40,000–$45,000. Chief Perko urged replacement rather than continued patching after storm damage flooded the dormitory and damaged finishes; the committee agreed to include $40,000 as an interim budget allowance while pursuing larger facility planning.

Committee members also discussed consolidating event spending under a single capped line (Mrs. Weiss suggested $95,000) to allow administrative flexibility and to make room for sponsorships; some members cautioned the approach could reduce transparency for specific events and urged continued reporting. Finance reported updated revenue assumptions: a property‑tax increase informally estimated at roughly $1.1 million over the prior year (down from a higher initial county estimate after appeals/delinquency adjustments) and a roughly 2.75% uptick in income‑tax projections.

The committee did not adopt final appropriations; Weiss said staff will update the draft budget with the requested clarifications and bring a revised version to the next council meeting for public discussion.

Next steps: Finance Director Dennis Kennedy will circulate itemized revisions in advance of the council meeting so members can reconcile questioned line items and finalize the draft budget.