Albion won’t have summer parks program in 2020
Village Board passes budget with no change in tax rate
Photo by Tom Rivers: The village parks are all closed right now, including Veteran’s Park at the corner of Brown Street and Linwood Avenue. That park last summer hosted the parks program while Bullard Park was under construction.
Preston Flugel, one of the summer park supervisors for the Village of Albion, pushes a kid in a swing last June 26, which was opening day for the summer parks program.
ALBION – The Village of Albion won’t be running a summer parks program due to the health concerns with groups of people congregating.
The program normally runs for five weeks from late June to late July or early August.
The village hires about a dozen park supervisors who lead games, crafts and other activities from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on weekdays.
The program is normally based at Bullard Park and the smaller park for kids, Pee Wee Park, which is also at Bullard. Last year the program was at Veteran’s Park at the corner of Linwood Avenue and Brown Street. Bullard Park was under construction last summer.
All of the village parks are currently closed. Village officials are hopeful the parks can be reopened at some point this summer. There won’t be any paid staff on site if the state gives the approval to reopen the parks.
Canceling the parks program will save the village about $20,000, although the cost wasn’t a factor in the decision.
Village budget keeps tax rate at $17.80 per $1,000
The Albion Village Board has approved a $6,972,285 budget that keeps the tax rate at $17.80 per $1,000 of assessed property.
The budget stays under the tax cap. The 2020-21 spending plan increases the tax levy The budget would increase the tax levy, what the village collects in taxes by $17,252, or by less than 1 percent (0.6 percent). The tax levy will go from $2,730,417 in 2019-2020 to $2,747,669 in 2020-21.
The budget takes effect beginning June 1 with a fiscal year that ends May 31.
The budget reflects a larger tax base in the village. Albion’s total assessed value increased by $969,218, from $153,394,234 to $154,363,452.
The budget includes $3,990,893 in the general fund, $1,678,241 in the water fund, and $1,303,151 in the sewer fund.
Albion Mayor Eileen Banker said she is concerned about the revenues for the village this coming fiscal year. The village was told by the county in December it would receive $165,688 in local sales tax in 2020. But the sales tax revenues are expected to be down, which could have an impact on what Albion receives. State funding for road paving and maintenance (CHIPS) also could take a hit.
The Village Board said it will keep a closer eye on the budget to see if adjustments are needed during the coming fiscal year.
