New London’s Finance and Personnel Committee has asked Attorney Earl Luaders to prepare an ordinance amending the Traffic Code to increase the current parking fine from $10 to $15 and add an increased fine of $25 for winter violations.
The move is part of an ongoing discussion regarding downtown parking issues, specifically in the winter months. Renters are parking and leaving vehicles in city lots for prolonged periods, causing problems with snow removal.
Police and Fire Commission
The finance committee met with members of the Police and Fire Commission to begin a discussion regarding compensation of fire chiefs.
The Police and Fire Commission is requesting a pay raise for the chief due to an increase in responsibilities.
The finance committee requested more information and tabled the matter for future discussion.
Budget message
City Treasurer Judy Radke presented an overall 2015 Budget message to the committee. She said she expects the 2015 budget to remain flat overall, since there are no significant revenue increases to offset any meaningful expenditure increases.
She asked everyone to begin their 2015 budget process. In doing so, she suggested department heads to begin by budgeting at the 10 percent maximum increase quoted by the insurance provider, 2 percent wage increases, and the average gallon of gas at $4 per gallon. She informed department heads shared revenue from the state will not change for 2014-2015.
“Please keep your overall budget increase to as close to zero percent as possible,” she wrote in a memo to department heads.
Department heads will present their preliminary budget packets by early September.