NORTH BALTIMORE – In spite of a tough economy, the village is expected to end this year with $17,000 more
in income tax collections than originally projected for its budget.
Finance Officer Pam Snell told council members Tuesday she had updated the distribution for income tax
revenue including November. "I’m projecting our income tax revenue for 2009 will exceed our
projections. With a conservative estimate for December, I’m looking at $17,000," she announced.
"That’s great news."
The data sheet she prepared for officials listed a projected total income tax collection for this year of
$520,000, about $34,000 less than income tax collected in 2008. So far for the first 11 months of the
year, the collection totals $512,329. Snell estimates December’s collection will be at least $25,000,
pushing the actual total to over $537,000.
Apart from the meeting, while members met in executive session to discuss real estate, she said
December’s collection could be $10,000 to $20,000 higher than the estimate of $25,000. "It’s mostly
a time frame issue," she explained, referring especially to the timing of collections for October
($29,863 less than 2008) and November ($26,176 more than 2008). "The budget is written tightly. I
do things conservatively."
When collections for five of the first six months of the year ran anywhere from $4,000 to $26,000 below
their counterparts in 2008, officials feared a projected shortfall of $40,000, so Snell’s news of at
least $17,000 more than projected pleased them. "Thank you very much," stated Councilman Aaron
Patterson.
Police Chief Allan Baer announced the transmission went out on its "workhorse" 2006 Crown
Victoria cruiser. Of the three bids which he presented to council, members accepted one for $2,350 for a
remanufactured transmission from Mack and Bob of Findlay since it came with a three-year warranty.
Mayor Ned Sponsler welcomed Ashley Quantic to the meeting, a junior at North Baltimore High School. She
and Ashley Baisden will alternate attending council meetings as a student representative on council.
"Hopefully you’ll learn something, and we’ll learn something as well," said the mayor.
After the meeting Councilman Mike Julien explained council passed an ordinance creating the position
several years ago, but in the last two years no one has filled it.
Councilman Bill Cameron reported the ambulance struck the garage door causing damage to the radio antenna
and its roof. A green light indicates when the garage door has been raised high enough to allow the
ambulance out safely, but this is the third time in about a year it has not worked correctly.
The question was raised why the sensor wasn’t checked after the first accident, or even the second one,
but Julien suggested it could be an intermittent problem. He recommended the squad use a
"spotter" to confirm visually that the door is up. Sponsler will talk to the EMS chief about
the problem.
Council approved up to $10,000 to update the safety services radio system for the police from Schulte
Communications in Delphos. It also approved up to $5,000 for installation of Fire Band Two radio
equipment from the same company which will be paid for from the fire department budget.
Members adopted two emergency ordinances, the purchase of brine mix equipment to use this winter and a
schedule of rates to be charged by the village when the fire department and/or EMS are called to the
scene of an accident or incident involving hazardous materials. The rates affect only nonresidents.
While the village will continue to use road salt, it is expected to get a return on its investment with
the brine mix equipment, possibly within two years because it will use less salt.