Hillsboro presents leanest budget in decades

The smallest city budget in nearly three decades was presented to Hillsboro City Council Tuesday night during their November meeting.

An ordinance to make appropriations from the city of Hillsboro's General Fund "to provide for the current expenses and other expenditures … during the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2013" was presented for a first reading.

The ordinance reflects a balanced 2013 budget. As previously reported in The Highland County Press, the city of Hillsboro faced a 2013 year-end deficit of as much as $670,000 earlier this year.

The ordinance includes $1,603,000 appropriated for general governmental services; $2,245,520 for security of persons and property; $14,000 for public health services; $2,000 for social services; and $5,000 for community environment, for a subtotal of $3,869,520.

The ordinance also includes appropriations for "contingencies for purposes not otherwise provided for, to be expended in accordance with the provisions of SEC 5705.40, R.C., the sum of $100,000," for a total of $3,969,520.

A total of $11,251,265 was proposed to be appropriated from funds including Street CM&R, state highway, municipal court, police pension, fire pension, recreation, revolving loans, rehab, life squad, municipal motor vehicle, indigent drivers, law enforcement trust, victims rights, general bond retirements, tax increments, water revenue, guaranteed deposit trust, water debt retirement fund, sewer revenue, wastewater improvement, sewer debt retirement and unclaimed monies trust.

In the auditor's report, delivered by council member Peter Pence in the absence of Hillsboro City Auditor Gary Lewis, it was reported that "this represents the smallest general fund budget and the smallest overall budget at least since the mid-1980s."

Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Richard Giroux announced that he was "very pleased to present" a balanced budget to council and encouraged council members to review it thoroughly.

Council president Lee Koogler told Giroux that "although [the proposed budget] is on the agenda for a first reading this evening, I am going to place that in committee."

The finance committee hopes to meet early next week to consider the proposed budget and make any necessary changes.

Also in the Hillsboro Auditor's report, Pence reported for Lewis that the city "successfully completed another very clean audit" from the state of Ohio, which can be viewed online at www.auditor.state.oh.us.

Pence also presented information on several pieces of legislation recommended by Lewis, all of which were approved by 5-0 votes (council members Rod Daniels and Mary Brown Turner were not present).

Resolutions included:

• A public records policy resolution was approved, after a suggestion that followed the recent audit.

The public records policy approved by council sets up a "prompt" and "reasonable" response time frame for public records requests, which is based on the volume of the records request as well the accessibility of records and "the necessity for any legal review and redaction of the records requested." According to the policy, the time frame includes acknowledging or fulfilling a request within three business days of receiving the request.

The policy also defined the handling of requests, including how to ensure requesters identify the records clearly and the policy for accepting requests.

The policy states that records requests do not have to be put in writing, and the requester "does not have to provide his or her identity or the intended use of the requested public record."

The policy also examined electronic records, denial or redaction of records, copying and mailing costs and the management of records.

• A resolution to increase appropriations in the 202 State Highway Fund from $19,000 to $25,000. Pence said that the increase in funds was necessary due to recent car accidents that damaged city property. The increased funds will go toward repairing a stop light post at West Main Street and Willettsville Pike and to a guard rail at US 62 South near Hillsboro Elementary.

"Both of these repairs will be reimbursed by insurance claims; however, the appropriation increases are necessary to remain in compliance with auditing standards," Pence read in Lewis' report.

• A resolution to increase appropriations in the 101 General Fund, specifically for the Municipal Court, by $26,000 to cover costs of payroll and payroll-related items.

"Court cost revenue at the end of October was already at 100 percent of the anticipated amount with two months remaining," Pence said in the report. "Even though it costs more, the court makes up for that cost in increased collections."

• Council approved two resolutions proposed by Giroux regarding applications for funding for the Carl Smith/Hobart Drive project.

The resolutions authorize Hillsboro Mayor Drew Hastings "to prepare and submit an application to the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) for construction funding" and to "the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for public works and economic adjustment assistance for the Hobart-Carl Smith Drive Part Two project and to execute contracts as required."

The Carl Smith/Hobart Drive project is currently expected to include improvements to and rebuilding of parts of U.S. 62, state Route 73, Careytown Road, Harry Sauner Road and Hobart Drive to improve traffic flow in the city.

As previously reported in The Highland County Press, the Carl Smith/Hobart Drive project will take place in three parts, parts two and three of which will involve the city. Part 2 (in the city) will be at a cost of $2,542,531.30, with a contingency of zero percent. Part 3 (also in the city) is still a work in progress with an estimated cost of $1,074,477.25. At the September council meeting, Highland County Engineer Dean Otworth addressed council regarding plans and funding and suggested the city seek funding from the EDA and ARC as well as the Ohio Public Works Commission.

• In his report to Council, Hastings spoke on the issue regarding a proposed billboard at 806 North West St., which had been considered by the property maintenance and restoration committee. Hastings asked if council members had spoken with residents living near the proposed billboard site.

"Did any member of this council even think to ask the local residents affected by this billboard of their opinion? I don't think so because Rod Daniels – this is in his district, and Mr. Daniels hasn't been here to either watch out for his constituents or to get any kind of feedback from them. These people have not been represented."

Daniels, a member of the 15th psychological operations of the National Guard, was deployed overseas last October.

Hastings also said that if this particular billboard is approved, there will be more requests of a similar nature made along West Street, and it would be difficult not to approve all requests once "you've set a precedent."

"Is there a stretch of road in the city where you would not allow a lighted billboard? If not, why? And why is that any different from the one you're set to approve tonight?" Hastings asked.

The mayor asked, on behalf of West Street residents, to table or deny the request.

"Only one person benefits from this sign's approval," Hastings said. "A lot of people gain from you voting it down."

Council member Bonnie Parr discussed the Nov. 5 property maintenance committee meeting, in which the committee considered this request.

Parr said that the state has permitted the request for the billboard, which is proposed to be a one-sided billboard (visible to those traveling north) with nine spaces for ads.

Committee members approved the billboard request, 3-0. Council voted to approve the request, 5-0.

Council also considered the following:

• In addition to the 2013 budget, Giroux also discussed a Capital Improvement Plan for the city.

• In the planning commission report, Mayor Hastings discussed a request for a variance for a used car lot to occupy the site of the old BP station on West Main Street. Hastings said that the committee discussed acceptable color scheme and design ideas with the prospective business and that the request was granted. Koogler asked that finalized information on the business submitted to council for approval.

• In the property maintenance committee report, Parr discussed a request by Merchants National Bank for a variance to install a sign with shifting time/temperature at their 100 North High St. location. Committee members approved the billboard request, 3-0 (with Dave Shoemaker standing for Pence, who abstained due to conflict of interest). Council voted to approve the request, 4-0 (Pence abstained).

In other action:

• Council approved a resolution to increase appropriations in the 211 Municipal Motor Vehicle License Fund from $12,000 to $35,000, an increase of $23,000.

• Council approved a resolution to accept the bid of Gradeco, Inc., doing business as Thomas Woods Paving, Inc., Sabina, for the Pleasant Street CDBG Project for the amount of $39,459.

"We are very happy with the bid," Giroux said, adding that the bid was approximately $10,000 below the city's expected costs for the project.

• Hillsboro Police Chief Nick Thompson received a professional service award from the Ohio Police Chiefs Association.