Over the course of four finance committee meetings in April and May, Owensville aldermen have crafted a balanced $6.8 million operating budget for fiscal year 2023-24 which begins July 1.

Owensville’s Board of Aldermen is scheduled to adopt the $6,815,316 budget when it convenes at 7 p.m. Monday, June 19, at City Hall. No public hearing is scheduled — they are no longer required  — but City Administrator Randy Blaske recently shared plans for $2,093,000 in capital spending allocations in the new fiscal year.

The city has budgeted $100,000 as its match for a $500,000 grant to create the city’s portion of the Rock Island Trail from the Highway 19 overpass by Owensville Middle School to at least Kosark Road.

The city has budgeted $700,000 for upgrades to the sewer system as part of an ongoing effort to reduce inflow and infiltration of storm water into the sanitary sewer lines across town. Upgrades to the water line and sewer mains along Sixth Street and Cuba Street totalling $330,000 will also be paid out of the new budget. ARPA funding is being used in these upgrades.

The city also plans to spend $145,000 on a vacuum trailer to use when flushing out sewer manholes when inspections and repairs are warranted. The city currently rents a unit for these projects. The machine can also be used to create openings for manholes which need to be installed.

The street fund has a budget which includes $285,000 for asphalt work. The city will contribute $70,000 in matching funds for creation of the new Springfield Road bypass alignment around Lakeside Book Company’s addition, reconnecting Springfield with Old Highway 19 north of the plant.

Another $60,000 is budgeted for sidewalk repairs and concrete ramps meeting Americans With Disabilities requirements. The street budget also includes $200,000 to fund special projects for storm pipe repairs and replacements.  A box culvert near Walnut and West Peters is among projects being planned.

The park system will upgrade its snow removal equipment with a cab-enclosed utility vehicle and relating plowing gear.

Upgrades to play equipment at Winter Water Park is budgeted at $75,000. Another $78,000 is planned for caulking and painting of the pool and the addition of another shade structure.

The city also plans to add more cart paths at the golf course with a $20,000 allocation for concrete.

City Clerk Peggy Farrell said Tuesday the proposed budget could likely face one final adjustment later this week as figures for the city’s liability insurance coverage remain to be finalized. She said she had a meeting scheduled with their insurance representative from Traveler’s Insurance to lock in rates for 2023-24. The bottom line, she said, would not change, just line items in each department adjusting for the final numbers.

An increase in rates is expected due to the national trend of raising rates due to prior hail and storm claims across the country.

Farrell said $378,253 in capital improvement sales tax receipts will be divided up between three departments through transfers: $88,496 for the water and sewer department, $169,077 for the street account, and $120,680 for parks.

As the city closes out its 2022-23 fiscal year, Blaske noted the city is completing approximately $300,000 worth of asphalt paving on the south side of town where new side walks, curbing and water and sewer work has been completed. Another $75,000 is being spent to asphalt the parking lots at pavilions No. 3 and 4 at Memorial Park. That work is being completed this week.