Funding slows fire station plans

By Staff
General Fund Budget revised
By Tracy L. Brady
Record Reporter
The city of Madison will have to dig a little deeper into its pockets to find additional funds to meet the lowest bid for city's proposed third fire station on County Line Road.
The lowest of five bids was received from Lee Builders for $604,082. The station was budgeted at $550,000.
At the June 24 city council meeting, Susan Klopfenstein, public contracts manager, told the council she has managed to reduce the bid by $14,157 and is hopeful that another $44,000 can be found in savings.
In other action, the council:
* Revised its general fund budget to accurately reflect revenue and expenses. The budget, adopted in September, projected $15.4 million in revenue and $15.6 in expenses. The revisions will increase revenue by more than $422,086 to $15.8 million. A majority of the increase has come as a result of increased property tax revenues from a countywide property re-appraisal and from the sale of stock the city owned in its insurance carrier. Expenses increased $162,979 to nearly $15.8 million. A majority of the increase came as a result of capital outlay, bills due from the previous year and from employee pay and benefits. The city projects to have a reserve of nearly $2.7 million when the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30.
* Made presentations to Bob Jones High School, Liberty Middle School, and the Madison City Schools Board of Education for state and national Blue Ribbon recognition.
* Approved the purchase of three compact shotguns and eight 12 gauge Remington shotguns to be used by the Madison Police Department.
* Announced the completion of an eight-tenths of a mile paved walking trail at Dublin Park.