Bay Village City Council approves 2016 budget

On March 23, Bay Village City Council unanimously voted on and approved the City’s 2016 Budget, doing so on three full readings. Budget discussions first commenced in early fourth quarter 2015, and as required by Ohio law, we, like other cities, were mandated to finalize our budget and annual appropriations ordinance by end of calendar first quarter. 

Council worked closely with City Administration officials to prepare, present and adopt a budget which balanced revenues with expenses, was considerate of the growing capital needs of the City, and provided flexibility throughout the 2016 year.

Many material items of importance, requiring considerable public conversation, elongated this year’s budgeting process. These elements included three-year bargaining unit contract extensions, which were approved through the 2018 year, revisions in the City’s health care plan, a five-year renewal of the City’s automated trash collection contract and ten-year renewal of the Bay Village–Westlake Composting Agreement, among others.

Over the past few years, we, as a city, have seen reductions in revenues, stemming primarily from cuts in the state's Local Government Fund and elimination of the Ohio Estate Tax. These cuts have reduced our General Fund revenues, on average, by approximately $1 million per year.

As Finance Committee Chair, I commend the working partnership efforts of the City Administration, our Finance Director, my Committee members, Department heads and Council members. Bay Village’s elected and appointed officials are equally committed to insuring the financial integrity of the City for years to come, while maximizing quality of life for our residents.