VILLAGE BUDGET Lowellville considers revenue raisers

Council is considering the first increase in sewer rates and tap-in fees in 10 years.
LOWELLVILLE -- A $63,000 surplus from last year helped Lowellville balance its 2005 budget, but the village can't count on another carryover for next year, Mayor James Iudiciani said.
Village council approved a budget of about $601,000 at a meeting earlier this week. The figure is slightly less than last year's budget because of a decrease in capital improvements expenditures, according to village administrator Phil Alfano.
But despite the leaner expenditures budget, Iudiciani said he's concerned about revenues during the coming year.
"We're budgeting about as tight as we can do it," Iudiciani said. "We need to look at ways to generate more revenue."
Higher rates
One proposal to be considered soon by village council is the first increase in sewer rates and tap-in fees in 10 years.
Alfano said that the increase is necessary for the village to stay in compliance with Environmental Protection Agency standards and to cover increasing operation and maintenance costs of the sewage treatment plant.
The proposal asks for an increase in residential sewer fees for village residents from $15 to $20 per year, and for an increase in fees from $27 to $32 for residents outside the village limits.
Iudiciani said that the village also plans to step up efforts to collect unpaid city taxes.
About $83,0000 in revenue would be raised from a 4.5-mill renewal levy planned for the November ballot.
The 2005 budget projects income tax revenue at $240,000, an increase of about $4,000 over last year. About one-third of the 1.5-percent tax rate is designated for capital improvements. Health care costs for the village's six full-time employees have increased, but they won't get raises in the new budget, Iudiciani said.
Also
In other action, council authorized Alfano to enter into a five-year contract with BFI for ammonia treatment at the sewage treatment plant. The contract would call for $39,600 to be paid to the village between April 1, 2005 and March 30, 2007. Additional amounts of $38,800 would be paid for 2007-2008 and $42,000 from 2008-2010.
Council also approved changing the name of Cooper Street Extension to Ralph Conti Drive.