John Scarffe, Nederland.   The Nederland Board of Trustees conducted the second public hearing for the 2019 budget and fee schedule during a regular meeting at 7 p.m. on Monday, November 20, 2018, in the Nederland Community Center. By approving the consent agenda, the trustees canceled the January 1, 2019, meeting.

The board conducted the first public hearing for the 2019 budget and fee schedule at the November 5, 2018 meeting. At the November 20 meeting, Town Treasurer Jennifer Hagey said the only changes made since the last review are under building and zoning to include a town labor rate of $55 an hour and adjusting the fee for the zoning amendment – rezoning for commercial from $1,000 to $,2000.

The 2019 Budget and Mill Levy resolution will be presented for adoption at the December 4, 2018 Board of Trustees meeting. At the November 5 meeting, Mayor Kristopher Larsen said the trustees have been working on the budget during a number of work sessions, and Hagey pointed out that the board has been working on the 2019 budget for a couple of months and has had two work sessions.

The draft budget was posted on October 15, 2018 to the town website: https://nederlandco.org/government/town-departments/finance/. Staff hasn’t heard any comments from the public yet.

A few changes were made after work session two. The sewer revenue base fee will increase by $13,000, an increase of $2.50, or roughly 6 percent, Hagey said. Health care plans for employees were finalized with a 7 percent increase in premiums, so the budget increased by $8,000 among all the different funds.

The town’s sales tax trend, based on 2018, increased by 7 percent in the 2019 budget.

The property tax mill levy was not reassessed for 2019, and staff expects a jump in 2020, Hagey said.

The staffing plan hasn’t changed since the last meeting. Law enforcement spending has decreased, but the budget includes additional police staffing by Boulder County. Staff is additionally requesting one part-time employee for utilities billing.

As a recap, Hagey stated that the town has 24 full-time employees and seven part-time. The Visitor Center will have one or possibly two employees, one seasonal.

Taxes and revenues increased because of the parking contract with Eldora Mountain Resort by the reservoir and money for a GOCO grant. Total general fund revenue increased $75,000, excluding grants revenue.

General fund expenditures increased due to insurance and salaries. The Visitor Center budget increased for salaries, and the Clerk’s Office increased its expenditures. Court costs decreased, and law enforcement increased, to allow 24-hour coverage.

General fund expenditures increased by $165,000. Capital projects increased by$ 25,000 for the plow and the match for the GOCO grant coming from the parking contract, resulting in a negative $132,000 change in net assets.

Excluding revenue set aside from the 2017 and 2018 parking contract for a park improvement grant match, the net change is negative $100,000. The town projects a $214,000 fund balance, which is well over the amount needed for Tax Payer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) requirements.

The Community Center budget includes $50,000 for a new roof in 2019. The sewer fund includes $1.5 million for biosolids, Hagey said.

Changes in the fee schedule include an increase in new business licenses up to $100. Record retrieval will increase by an hourly rate to $25 an hour, or retrieval by legal or management will increase to $50 an hour. Liquor license renewal will cost a flat fee of $575.

The biggest changes were in facilities and rentals. Staff made different rates for different sized groups and the amount of time the facilities are to be rented, so the rental fees have increased in some cases, Hagey said. Water fees will increase by 3 percent, and the sewer fees will increase by 6 percent.

The Community Center will increase daily rates for rooms, and the Police Department added a fee for sex offender registration. Trustee Kristen Conrad asked how many days per year the public park should be rented out.

Larsen said that’s something the board should look at next year. Conrad pointed out that if the Town Hall parking lot is shut down, people can’t park and go to the businesses.

“I think $250 is not enough.” The board can modify this at any time. Trustee Dallas Masters said he searched the budget for expenditures that increased by more than 25 percent.

Payroll increased for the ADP software, which includes time-off requests and approves time cards electronically, so it’s worth the $1,800. Internet fees have gone up.

Hagey explained that each department paid for internet services separately, and staff now has one lump internet fee, which has a higher speed for the phone system and is saving money.

The town is spending a lot more, a 170 percent increase for internet.

Software went up 73 percent in law enforcement. Trash services went up 110 percent, $3,000 in Public Works-Streets to cover the Saws and Slaws event. The budget has a gigantic increase in water expenses, and the last issue is with the goodwill fund.

Town Administrator Karen Gerrity said that’s a food pantry request for $7,000, and the board approved it at another meeting. Larsen said the trustees don’t have to take any action tonight and will look forward to the final budget in two weeks and one day.

Public Works Manager Chris Pelletier informed the board of staff’s intention to apply for grant funding for improvements to Jefferson Street, the Visitor’s Center parking lot and a portion ofFirst Street. The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) manages a lot of federal funds for roads and increasing air quality.

Nederland is eligible to apply for millions of dollars, Pelletier said. “I’m learning about it.” Grant funding is available from DRCOG through a program called the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

DRCOG oversees federal dollars for TIP projects that align with transportation objectives of the region. Within the region are sub-regions that also have their transportation objectives. Nederland is in a sub-region with Boulder, Longmont, Superior, Erie and a couple others, according to background.

Representatives of the sub-region vote on projects to apply for funds from DRCOG. “Staff would like to take a swing at applying for these funds to make major improvements to the area surrounding Town Hall,” according to background.

“The first step is working with a consultant to develop a conceptual design for the application. Staff believes there is enough funds in the budget to accomplish a design this year for the application deadline in February,” states background. Staff estimates the value of the proposed project to be $1 million and is working to understand match requirements. Staff intends to seek additional funding from the Nederland Downtown Development Authority or a second grant opportunity.

Pelletier said the match is 20 percent, but the town can use state funds for part of that. Larsen said this was a good heads up and a good project on the radar.

(Originally published in the November 29, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)