Canfield OKs budget for 2008

Canfield OKs budget for 2008

The city plans to increase its road paving for the year.

By ED RUNYAN

VINDICATOR staff writer

CANFIELD — City council approved a 2008 budget Wednesday that sets aside more than $1 million for two phases of a project to replace storm sewers in the Hilltop Boulevard area.

As part of the city’s $9,134,471 budget, the city will spend $513,534 for Phase I, which will run from state Route 46 east onto Hilltop. The contract was already awarded, and construction is expected within a month.

Phase II, costing $506,375, will continue the project in a southeasterly direction and will provide better drainage in the areas of Skyline Drive, Neff Drive and Callahan Road, said Charles Tieche, city manager.

The second phase will probably be built sometime later this year, he said, with two additional phases to follow after that.

The $1.3 million project is being funded with $690,000 in Ohio Public Works grant money and the remainder coming from the city.

Overall, the budget reflects a 9.2 percent increase over 2007 spending of $8,365,768.

The budget also includes a contribution of $13,100 toward the expense of holding this summer’s Fourth of July celebration in the city, a $5,000 piece of wooden playground equipment in Fair Park on Fair Street and an additional $17,000 for tree cutting and stump removal for the parks board.

The city has added $50,000 to the city’s street resurfacing program for 2008 to keep the paving program on target to repave every street in the city every 10 years and to cover higher asphalt prices, Tieche said.

Revenues in 2008 are projected at around $8 million, with a 2007 carry-over balance of $5.8 million. The city expects revenue of $2.4 million in 2008 from its 1 percent income tax.

In other business, council approved the purchase of an International dump truck, dump truck body, snow plow and salt spreader at a price not to exceed $100,000 from Cerni Motor Sales Inc. of Austintown.

Council also approved the purchase of two Dodge Charger police cars from Bob Chuck Eddy Chrysler-Dodge Jeep of Austintown for not more than $41,680.

runyan@vindy.com