Coupeville Mayor Nancy Conard released her final draft budget Tuesday, the same day her replacement Molly Hughes was voted into office.
The $4.2-million operating budget reflects Conard’s conservative fiscal approach, leaving the town with a healthy ending fund balance.
“This is the 20th budget I have presented as mayor and the last before my retirement,” said Mayor Nancy Conard in her budget message. “It is prepared as all the budgets have been during my term: conservative projects of revenue and expenditures, and with annual operating expenses supported by annual revenue.”
“The net effect,” she added, “is a sustainable funding plan, and has resulted in ending fund balances each year that have exceeded the budget figures.”
The town will fund 11 full-time employees with one change in the engineering position.
Half of that position will change to a contracted position as needed.
The budget also reflects allocations for vehicle costs and insurance and a new schedule was established to ensure expenses are distributed properly.
The budget anticipates $3,800 in additional property tax revenue and new construction.
Conard said she also budgeted $50,000 as a buffer for transition support while town hall transitions from a mayor that was both a city administrator and mayor.
Conard earned $68,000 a year in the duel role. Hughes will earn $36,000 a year as mayor.
“These funds may be used to outsource work or projects, to add time to existing staff or to make other expenditures necessary with the change in administration and assignment of duties,” Conard said.
The town budget reflect a 2 percent cost of living increase for employees and scheduled step increases.
Not reflected in the budget is possible utility rate increases, which Conard said she anticipates proposing sometime in December.
Water rates have not increased since 1993 and sewer since 1999.
“A rate study for the utilities is currently underway,” Conard said. “We will also address the creation of a stormwater utility.”
The draft budget is available to the public for review and a public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24 during the town council’s regular meeting time.
Copies can be found at Town Hall or on the town’s website, www.townofcoupeville.org under the tab “Documents & Info.”
