24

AN ORDINANCE

BY VICE MAYOR BYINGTON NO 4925
AN ORDINANCE TO MAKE APPROPRIATIONS FOR CURRENT EXPENSES AND OTHER EXPENDITURES OF THE CITY OF OAKWOOD, STATE OF OHIO, DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2021.

A copy of the ordinance, having been placed on the desks of each member of Council prior to introduction, was read by title.

Vice Mayor Byington explained that this is Oakwood's annual budget ordinance, which appropriates the City's funding for 2021. This ordinance is required under Section 6.05 of the City Charter and, when adopted, provides formal authorization to the city manager to spend public dollars in providing city services.

Oakwood's total city budget is divided into five primary parts with budgeted spending in each as follows:

General City Services: $13,255,893
Refuse Services: $1,417,584
Water Services: $1,175,820
Sanitary Sewer Services: $1,793,704
Stormwater Services: $453,008

At this point, City Council typically asks the City Manager and Finance Director to deliver a detailed presentation on the proposed budget, and the chair and/or vice chair of our citizen Budget Review Committee (BRC) is invited to comment on the budget on behalf of the 35 member committee.

Given the status of COVID-19 and Council's desire to keep this meeting as short as possible, Council will forego the staff presentation and BRC comments. Instead, Vice Mayor Byington provided the following budget highlights:

  • There is no increase in 2021 to city income taxes, or property taxes.
  • There is no increase in 2021 to fees for refuse, water, sanitary sewer or stormwater services.
  • We begin 2021 with good balances in all of our funds.
  • The 2021 budget reflects spending for our General City Services to be about $300,000 less than revenues.
  • Spending for our refuse services will be about $65,000 more than revenues. This $65,000 will be covered by existing cash reserves.
  • Spending for our water services will match revenues.
  • Spending for our sanitary sewer services will be about $75,000 less than revenues.
  • Spending for our stormwater services will be about $15,000 less than revenues.

Oakwood is in good shape financially, even given the impact of the coronavirus. The citizen Budget Review Committee met last Tuesday and received a detailed briefing on the 2021 budget. 23 members attended the meeting and at the conclusion voted unanimously to recommend that City Council approve the budget as proposed.

Thereupon, it was moved by Vice Mayor Byington and seconded by Mr. Stephens that the second reading be waived and that the ordinance be passed tonight.

Mayor Duncan congratulated City Manager Norbert Klopsch, Finance Director Cindy Stafford and all city department heads for doing a great job with their diligence in managing finances, particularly during these more than challenging times with the pandemic.

Upon call of the roll on the question of the motion, the following vote was recorded:

MR. WILLIAM D. DUNCAN YEA
MR. STEVEN BYINGTON YEA
MR. ROBERT P. STEPHENS YEA
MRS. ANNE S. HILTON YEA
MR. CHRISTOPHER EPLEY YEA

There being five (5) yea votes and no (0) nay votes thereon, said ordinance was declared duly passed and it was so ordered.