The council approved the budget after hearing from residents during a town hall meeting recently. New Carlisle Mayor Ethan Reynolds said councilmembers worked together to create a fair budget.
MORE: New Carlisle ends 2018 with about $950,000 in general fund
“The city building is a massive opportunity for us,” Reynolds said. “As our city grows we will have a large enough building to grow with it.”
New Carlisle’s government earlier celebrated having a surplus in funds beginning this year as it was in stark contrast to five years ago when the city had nearly no money saved. The government had about $950,000 saved in its general fund, according to officials.
Now they can take that money — along with new money generated this year — and work on projects that the city couldn’t afford before, Reynolds said.
“City roads will continue to be paved again for the third year in a row which has never been done,” Reynolds said. “In the last two years we have paved nine city streets which is unprecedented.”
New Carlisle Councilmember Mike Lowery said in a statement on his city Facebook page that he hopes the city will continue to pave roads.
“This year the city is set to mill and repave Butternut, Hemlock and Bittersweet streets. Also, a full reconstruction of the east block of Galewood is set to be completed this summer,” he said. “I would like to see our sites set on Drake, Rawson and Fenwick along with a few others on the south side of Lake next year like Langdale. I will keep you posted as street projects are updated.”
The 2019 budget shows the city is planning for its largest expense is water and wastewater. The city has budgeted about $2.3 million for the service.
READ: New Carlisle business to begin up to $8M expansion, add jobs
The city also budgeted about $115,000 for the city swimming pool and more than $100,000 for the city cemetery.
Reynolds said both are important to residents.
“Three years ago, the pool was losing almost $40,000 a year,” Reynolds said. “The last two it has been making money or close to breaking even. The pool will have updated lighting placed in it this year and new restrooms for those who attend.”
Another aspect of the budget is that the city doesn’t have to get in any debt this year.
“Not only is the budget balanced but we won’t have to take loans again,” Reynolds said. “This will be the second year in a row that New Carlisle hasn’t added to its debt portfolio. We are buying a medic, police cruiser, city building, paving road and donating $5,000 to the food pantry all in cash.”
Reynolds said the city plans to do all this and have a greater surplus at the end of 2019.
“We could end close to the million dollar mark,” Reynolds said. “When I was re-elected, we were projected to only have $195 and now with fiscal responsibility, we have saved or cut enough money for a surplus.”
He also said passage of a police levy helped improve the city’s finances.
Facts and Figures
$114,740: Money budgeted for the New Carlisle swimming pool
$100,650: Money budgeted for the New Carlisle cemetery
$5,000: Money budgeted to be donated to the New Carlisle food bank
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