With former manager Jim Park gone and property tax revenues declining, the Town of Gardnerville is down to a bare-bones budget and is not asking for much in the next fiscal year.
On Tuesday, town board members approved a lean 2010-11 tentative budget with a $1.56 million general fund, down about $100,000 from last year.
"Nothing in here is padded," acting town manager and engineer Tom Dallaire said Wednesday morning.
Dallaire said his employment contract, serving as both manager and engineer, runs at about $80,000 a year, plus benefits. By not hiring a separate manager in the wake of Park's departure, he said the town is saving about $100,000. He said town staffing is down to about 10 employees, including himself.
To ride out the next fiscal year, Dallaire has made no requests for additional staff, save regular seasonal employees for the parks. He also decided, and the board agreed, to roll over some $534,240 designated for capital improvement projects into the following year's general fund.
"I think we're going to get hammered next year with the state budget so bad," he told board members Tuesday night.
Dallaire said Park did a good job maintaining roadways. He said a $300,000 overlay planned for the subdivision behind Lampe Park can wait another year. Given the current economic climate, the money might come in handy.
Board Chairman Tom Cook said employees understand that they have to pitch in and pick up the "extra load" in tough economic times. By not filling Park's position with a separate manager, town staff members face more duties; but, Dallaire said, that vacancy is saving the town and its residents money.
"If we hired another individual to do things, it would mean another salary and benefits," he said. "It's not cost-effective in my mind."
Additionally, the town's trash budget for the next year is about $1.13 million. Debt service expenses ring in at $144,590. Dallaire said bonds on the town's main office will be paid off this year, and that debt for the downtown lighting project will paid off within five years.
For fiscal year 2010-11, Main Street Gardnerville's tentative budget is $114,200, assuming that Douglas County allocates another $50,000 to the revitalization program.
The Town of Gardnerville is also planning on about $1.27 million in state Question 1 money for the Hellwinkel and Martin Slough expansion project, though funding is not yet guaranteed, Dallaire said.
In other news, the Burger King in the Scolari's shopping center in Gardnerville may be getting a serious makeover.
Town board members voted 5-0 to approve a minor design review for a remodel of the fast-food chain. According to schematics, the front entrance of the building along Highway 395 would be enhanced and given some new features including a 34-foot tower with a more prominent sign.
Dallaire said the owners told him the restaurant is the lowest performing Burger King in Northern Nevada.
"They were considering closing it," he said. "But they would like to stay in Gardnerville, so they're trying to increase visibility along the highway."
Board Vice Chairman Michael Philips said the town should do what it can to help out the business.
"I'm not for seeing another empty storefront in the community," he said.
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