The Zionsville Town Council unanimously adopted a 2021 budget after several weeks of meetings and negotiations to pass it without a deficit.
Since Sept. 16, the council met seven times, including three budget workshops and a special meeting on Oct. 29. The council allowed an additional two weeks to ensure it and other town departments were satisfied with the budget.
Adopted revenue for the 2021 budget register is $31,982,623 and adopted expenses were $31,961,824, leaving a surplus of $20,799. In 2020, the town council adopted a budget with $31,173,282 in revenue and $32,883,090 in expenses, resulting in a deficit of $1,709,808.
Tammy Havard, the town’s CFO, explained during the Oct. 29 special meeting why the 2020 budget was adopted with a deficit.
“There are capitol expenses that do occur from cash savings over the years,” shse said. “That is a common practice. It’s known that capitol expenses happen and are planned for.”
Major capital outlays in 2021 include expenses related to a new roundabout, two fire tankers, Town Hall improvements and other town projects, which the council can fund through cash balance reserves saved in prior years, Havard said.
The council cut other expenses to keep $500,000 in street repair funds in the budget, Havard said.
The town released a press release that states: “The technology improvements added to the budget will make it more efficient for citizens to interact with the town and allow for streamlined sharing of financial and nonfinancial information with citizens.”
