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Alanson council reviews preliminary FY2027 budget, sets several capital targets
Summary
Clerk-Treasurer Jennifer Murphy presented a preliminary FY2027 budget with a proposed 3% cost-of-living increase and several capital requests; Council earmarked funds for zoning administration, DPW repairs, and smaller park and equipment projects but took no final votes.
Clerk-Treasurer Jennifer Murphy presented the village’s proposed FY2027 operating budget at the Jan. 12 Village of Alanson council meeting, asking trustees to review the draft and return next month with suggestions. Murphy said the proposal includes a 3% cost-of-living increase for staff and that zoning-administration expenses are currently captured under professional fees.
President Jamie Breithaupt asked Murphy to create a separate line item for Beckett & Raeder and suggested budgeting $8,000 to cover additional zoning meetings. Breithaupt and Street Commissioner Jason Losey described several capital needs at the Department of Public Works building — a new roof, septic work, doors, insulation and electrical upgrades — and Breithaupt initially asked Murphy to set $50,000 aside as a capital appropriation for those repairs. Later in the meeting Breithaupt instructed Murphy to reduce the DPW repairs budget to $40,000.
Losey identified other items Murphy had proposed or the council discussed: lowering the ballfield allocation, increasing holiday-decor funds, budgeting $1,000 for an automatic locking mechanism on the boathouse bathroom, and $6,000 to replace tires on a loader. He also urged the council to begin budgeting for a future plow truck to replace the 2014 Freightliner, which he said is showing rust and mechanical problems. Murphy noted $10,000 was budgeted for the Master Plan project and said the village owes less than that on the remaining work.
Murphy reviewed the Local Street and Major Street funds and highlighted washouts on Terrace, Pine, Warren and Chicago streets; Losey estimated Terrace & Pine could require more extensive work and said one such project might exceed $1 million. The council discussed possible rain-garden work on Chicago Street and noted the Swing Bridge falls under the Major Street budget.
Murphy also flagged volatility in the Sewer Fund after recent unplanned expenses and said she recently broke a CD to free $25,000 in cash; she reinvested other funds into a new certificate of deposit. No final budget votes or formal appropriations were taken at the meeting; trustees asked staff to return with refined numbers and potential grant options for several park and infrastructure items.
The council is scheduled to reconvene on the budget at its next regular meeting.
