Holly Trustees Set 2014 Budget, Delay 4 Day Work Week Action

Holly Depot

 The annual 2014 budget for the Town of Holly, as outlined by Administrator Marsha Willhite, included various town services such as administrative, fire, police, streets, library, recreation and utility departments.  The mill levy for 2014, which also was passed by a resolution vote, has not changed, at 28.866 mills and has stayed constant for several years.  The assessed valuation for the town has increased by $33,530 from $2,385,815 to $2,419,345.  Property taxes will show a small increase of $968 from $68,869 to $69,837.  Total cash for the 2014 budget is projected to decrease by $7,716 to $835,821 as of the end of 2014. 

Trustees were divided on their opinions for a proposed ten hour, four day work week for municipal employees.  Under the proposal, the town clerk’s office would be closed on Friday and the weekend, on-call list of employees for emergency services would be in operation for future Fridays as well.  The clerk’s office would be open later during the work week, to provide time for residents to conduct business past 5pm.  Several trustees stated they had heard from their constituents who were opposed to the four day schedule.  Salary schedules would not be altered under the proposal.  Proponents stated that employees would be able to conduct personal business on their off Friday, instead of taking time off during the regular work week.  The four day proposal will be separated from the Personnel Policy Resolution and the remaining items will be discussed during the January meeting. 

The other resolutions were passed by the trustees including setting their meeting days for the first Wednesday of each month for 2014, with a January 1^st exception for the holiday; eliminating the Capital Projects Fund for lack of a revenue stream; adopting the budget and appropriation of sums of money for the various funds and spending agencies in the town and setting the property tax levy for the new year.  The trustees also approved the re-appointment of David Willhite to the ARPA board of directors through December, 2017.  The $59,000 remaining in the Capital Projects Fund will be transferred to the town’s Utility Reserve. 

The trustees postponed discussion on two areas; guidelines for reimbursement for building permits until more information was available on how other communities handle those situations and the pending electric rate study for GP Irrigated Farms LLC.   Administrator Willhite said NMPP, Nebraska Municipal Power Pool, is conducting a cost analysis study and their findings are not complete at this time.  In other action, the Liquor License Renewal for J.R.’s Country Store was approved.  The next trustees meeting will be held, Wednesday, January 8, 2014.

By Russ Baldwin