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Communication from the Mayor relative to the FY2017 budget
Dear Council:
I write in response to those items you requested as modifications to the proposed budget. In the spirit of working together, I have amended the budget to include the following modifications voted on at last week’s City Council meeting:
1. Addition of $7,776 - Grant Funded Nurse
We are all hopeful that the grant will be renewed to allow us to retain this position. Therefore, funding this important role short-term while we await word on the grant is both prudent and reasonable.
2. Addition of $25,000 - City Clerk Salaries
With Karen Anderson’s impending retirement, providing for the opportunity to cross train her replacement makes sense to ensure a smooth transition. We would only add that should Karen’s replacement be hired from within that we try to take advantage of that as much as possible to minimize the actual use of these additional funds.
3. Movement of $51,000 from HR Salaries to HR Operating
We understand the concern with filling this position as an employee versus utilizing outside contractors as we currently do. I am comfortable moving forward with retaining these services the same way we have in the past except that it be managed within HR.
4. Movement of $83,799.41 from Permits Inspections and Planning Services (PIPS) Salaries to Mayor’s Salaries
We had proposed moving Kevin Duffy to the PIPs department because we felt that bringing together what he does with what PIPs does would improve the customer experience and provide needed depth within PIPs. However, we understand from the dialogue that there was a desire to learn more before agreeing to such a move and as such we agree with moving the funds back to the Mayor’s Office for the time being.
In order to account for the two initiatives that involve additional funding, the following updates have been made to the budget:
• The Snow and Ice deficit account was updated to reflect a more accurate figure resulting in a savings of $29,975.
• The Revenue reserve was reduced by $2,801.
Additionally, you had requested that we consider funding a part-time wire inspector. This change, unlike the others, would represent a permanent addition to our expense structure. Prior to moving forward with such a request, we believe it’s prudent that we wait until we have our certified free cash from the state. At that time, should the net free cash increase by more than expected then we will further consider this request. In the meantime, we will instruct Director Chris Webb to prepare some metrics showing the electrical permit and inspection numbers over the past several years as compared to comparable communities. With the benefit of this updated information we can then revisit this topic.
Finally, the attached budget reflects the changes outlined above as well as the following updates previously voted on by the City Council:
• Reduction of Fire OT by $175,000, moving the same amount to Revenue reserve;
• Reduction of Police OT by $175,000, moving the same amount to Revenue reserve;
• Reduction of Mayor’s Salaries by $41,899.71, moving the same amount to Revenue reserve;
• Reduction of Police Admin Salaries by $39,852.50, moving the same amount to Revenue reserve;
• Reduction of Police IT Expenses by $20,000, moving the same amount to Revenue reserve; and,
• Reduction of Mitigation Revenue by $278,573.77, reducing Revenue reserve by the same amount.
It is our hope that with these changes the City Council is able to pass the budget as further amended. We commend you on the work done during this process that allowed each department to be heard while at the same time remaining committed to helping us get to a balanced budget. There is no doubt that more difficult decisions lie ahead but my hope is that by working together we can put this city on firm footing for the future.
Sincerely,
GARY CHRISTENSON, Mayor