The University Park Village Board approved a 2023-2024 budget Tuesday, eight months into the budget year, with consistent pay for the mayor and trustees compared to previous years and the final payment to CHW Management Group for the University Park Golf Course.
The budget for the fiscal year, which began May 1, has general fund revenues projected at about $19.4 million and expenses at $18.8 million.
Village Manager Elizabeth Scott said the budget includes $60,000 as the final payment to CHW Management Group as part of the University Park Golf Course funding agreement.
In June, four trustees called a special meeting and voted to issue a 90-day notice of termination to CHW Management Group as manager of the municipal golf course. The village has since operated the golf course.
Mayor Joseph Roudez will receive a $20,000 salary as mayor and $6,000 for his role as liquor commissioner, the budget shows.
Roudez was budgeted to receive a $20,000 salary in 2021-22 and received $25,999 that year. In 2022-23, he was budgeted to receive a $20,000 salary and received that amount, according to the budget.
Trustees will receive $72,000 divided among the six members in 2023-24. In 2022-23, the trustees were budgeted for $75,000 and received $72,000, according to budget documents.
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Under this year’s budget, Scott will receive $112,500 in salary, the police chief will receive $110,000, the fire chief $112,250 in salary and the deputy fire chief $109,250. Scott said the two fire officials received a 2% raise from their 2022-23 salaries.
Trustee Theo Brooks said there’s nearly a $3,000 gap in salaries for the two chiefs. Brooks said his “pet peeve” with University Park is that the gap isn’t larger.
“Every other town I’ve seen it where there’s a $5,000 to $10,000 gap from your top civil service positions, so I’m speaking fire and police,” Brooks said. “We have to get these salaries correct in this town.”
Scott said village officials have reviewed job descriptions and salaries, which she hopes to address in the next budget cycle.
The finance director salary was left empty this year because the position is vacant. Scott said the village is in the process of hiring a finance director but she doesn’t believe someone will be hired before April, which is when this budget year ends.
“The likelihood that we’re going to get a qualified finance director in before April highly unlikely,” Scott said. “I’m hesitant to hire somebody while the finances are in the position they are in as far as getting books rectified as it relates to police to fire. Just getting everything in order.”
Brooks said overall, the budget has improved from previous years with revenues coming in higher than expenses.
“We’re doing good with money,” Brooks said.
Trustee Donna Fulcher said she met with Scott before the meeting to go over the budget and make sure her concerns raised at the Nov. 28 meeting were addressed. Fulcher asked if in future budgets the Public Works Department budget could increase funding for landscaping and “the way the village looks” near police and fire stations and the town center.
Scott said $10,000 was added into the budget for landscaping in those areas. At the November meeting, Scott said she wanted to be cautious about adding funding to departments.
“Historically, from what I understand and what I saw my first year here, we struggled to make ends meet in the winter. I saw this. I want to be cautiously optimistic,” she said.