The budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year was put on file for public inspection at the March 16 Charleston City Council meeting.

The projected expenditures are $27.17 million and the projected revenues are $27.71 million.

The city’s budget will be voted on by the city council at 7:30 p.m. today at City Hall.

The council will also vote on the water and sewer rate increase during the meeting.

If approved, all metered users will be charged $11.14 for the first 1,000 gallons or less and $10.65 per 1,000 gallons for the next 9,000 gallons.

Eastern will be charged a flat rate of $10.72 per thousand gallons.

The city is in the early stages of construction to replace the water main under 18th Street. However, in order to complete the project under Route 16, a process called jack and bore must be completed to comply with the state code, which does not allow the deconstruction of the state road by the city, Mayor John Inyart said.

The city must complete the process to replace the main under the road by having holes on either side and placing the pipes without disturbing the state road.

The city staff has recommended the bid award for the project be given to Bryant Construction, of Harrisburg, for the amount of $63,200. The bid award will be introduced to the council during the meeting.

An increase in ambulance fees will also be introduced at the meeting.

The rates for Charleston residents for basic life support will increase from $265 to $372.40.

“Over the last few years, the rates have been increased to keep pace with the expenses and Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement amounts,” Inyart said.

A two-year grant from the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) will be introduced as a resolution to the council.

The city applied for the grant earlier this year and the city will now accept the grant.

Usually the city spends about $30,000 per household on low-income owner occupied housing to improve the condition of the housing, Inyart said.

“Since 1994, we have brought in about $3.5 million in grant funds through this program and that has upgraded about 125 homes,” Inyart said.

The money put toward these houses is put in the books as a forgivable loan, if the homeowner lives in the residence for 10 years after the upgrade the loan is forgiven.

The city council will also look at three tourism grants to be given out for summer events within the city.

The city will give the grants to the Coles County Modified Racing Association for the 2nd Annual NW Summer Nationals, to the Eastern Athletic Department for the IHSA State Track Meets and to Eastern’s Department of Kinesiology for the IHSA Badminton Championships.

When an individual stays in a hotel within the city limits, there is a hotel/motel tax collected, which is put toward the city’s tourism fund.

“This money can be spent on the promotion of events that promote overnight stays in Charleston,” Inyart said. “So, all three of these events promote overnight stays and they have applied for the grants to advertise for the event.”

The grants range form $500-$1,000.

During the April 5 meeting, the council looked at an ordinance amending the Bed and Breakfast city code.

The amended code compiles all related information into one code and clarifies definitions and language used within the ordinance.

“It has been revised to say certain items once instead of differently two or three times,” City Attorney Brian Bower said during the April 5 meeting.

A contract with Eastern will also be introduced to the city council today.

The city would like to update the geographical information system and by compiling efforts from Eastern and the city, the project can be completed in a cost efficient manner.

“We use this for plotting our infrastructure on an overlay of the city map,” Inyart said. “That allows us to then access that information from the laptops in the city vehicles. The fire department and the city works department utilize that quite a bit.”

The Charleston City Roads scholarship will be looked at for renewal, as well.

“Eight years ago, the city of Charleston basically sold Eastern Seventh Street, south of Lincoln (Avenue), so they could extend the Doudna Fine Arts Center across the road,” Inyart said. “In doing so, rather than pay the city, the university gave the city tuition hours, that have then put together a committee.”

The tuition hours are given to residents of Charleston to help with school at Eastern.

The Illinois Municipal League has recommended that all cities pass a resolution to send Gov. Pat Quinn a letter regarding the Local Government Distributive Fund (LGDF).

Quinn has recommended a cut from state’s budget within the LGDF and the effect on Charleston would result in a loss of $501,280, if the budget were accepted by the General Assembly.

“This is symbolic, it is not binding in any way,” Inyart said. “But it does bring notoriety to the issue.”

The resolution will be introduced to the city council.

Three raffle permits and a proclamation of Arbor Day will also be addressed along with the consent agenda.

Kayleigh Zyskowski can be reached at 581-7942 or kzyskowski@eiu.edu.