(PHOTO BY BRIANNA BALOGH / THE VILLAGE REPORTER)
2025 BUDGET … Village Administrator Dawn Fitzcharles presents budget review to the committee.
By: Brianna Balogh
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
Called to order at 6:00pm, the Edgerton Finance Committee began talks for the 2025 budget. In attendance were Jason Gruver, Lance Bowsher, Mayor Bob Day, Village Administrator Dawn Fitzcharles and Fiscal Officer Denise Knecht. Chuck Wallace arrived slightly late.
Administrator Fitzcharles presented a general review of the proposed budget for 2025. Fitzcharles began with a brief summary of discussion from the Wage and Compensation meeting held the previous week.
Updates included a proposed revision to the holiday calendar, an increase to HSA match, and proposed drone licensing.
Next, figures were provided for several different funds. Slides outlining the budget progress year over year were presented. Budget increases were seen in some areas such as zoning and the fire fund.
However, there were far more budget decreases including police, parks, water, sewer and street funds. Fitzcharles explained several reasons for increases and decreases to each budget item.
One example is the police budget which had included a police cruiser and will not be in the following year’s budget. The water budget decreased due to the ongoing water treatment upgrades. More in-depth information to be provided in the upcoming finance committee meeting.
Other items addressed were grants and funds received from state programs. First discussed was the voted motor vehicle fund in which $5 from every registration is allocated back to Edgerton.
These funds are requested to be used on the Stadium Drive extension along with $50,000 being requested at the county level. The nature works fund had to be separated due to the grant for the community center required to be in a separate new fund which led to a decrease for 2025.
Currently there is a grant application in process for upgrades to Miller Park including seating, trash cans, and disc golf. A FEMA account will remain open even though the grant application for SCBA funding was not approved. Application will be submitted again in 2025.
There were a few pass-through funds that were noted, including water treatment upgrade and ODOT/Safe Route to Schools fund.
Fitzcharles provided a brief update from AMP on village electric usage and how that will affect the village next year. She also provided comparisons between village pricing and outside competitors.
Overall, the budget from 2024 to 2025 will see a significant decrease but would still be over a normal range. Next steps will include a detailed finance committee meeting to allow for in depth discussions and 3 readings before the budget is finalized and voted on.