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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget/Finance Committee Minutes 04.05.2011 MINUTES BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEE April 5, 2011 5:30 P.M. COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Kate Hart, Chairman Mark Mace, Co- Chairman Chuck Dickerson Doug Poehls OTHERS PRESENT: Shirley Ewan Mayor Kenneth Olson Sam Painter Rick Musson Chairman Kate Hart called the regular meeting of the Budget/Finance Committee to order at 5:30 p.m. There was no public in attendance. The minutes of the March 15, 2011 meeting were presented and approved via motion by Mark, seconded by Doug, and passed unanimously. Doug made a motion to approve the claims, in the amount of $233,038.41, for Council consent; Mark seconded the motion, all in favor, motion passed. There were two purchase requisitions presented to the committee. The requisitions were presented by Police Chief Musson. The first requisition was for 5 Dell Optiplex Business Class Computers in the amount of $5,375. These will be paid for out of the Federal Equitable Sharing Fund. Chuck inquired as to whether this would be a total of 7 new computers, since 2 were already purchased for the dispatch. Rick stated that yes it would. Rick stated that he will be purchasing the computers through Technical Edge. The second requisition is for service support through Industrial Communications & Electronics Inc. Rick stated that this support service is a yearly charge for the dispatch 911 system and will be paid for out of the 911 Fund. The committee approved both requisitions with a motion made by Chuck and seconded by Doug. Motion passed. The Comp /OT reports for PPE 3/20/2011 were reviewed. Mark inquired if overtime is budgeted and how the budgeted amount is determined. Shirley stated that it is budgeted for and she leaves that up to the department head. If they are unable to determine the amount, she takes an average of the last 3 years plus adding any wage increases that have occurred in those years. Chuck asked why there was no overtime report for the Public Works. Shirley stated that they did not have any overtime during this pay period. The Payroll Register for PPE 3/20/11 totaling $157,355.01 was reviewed by the Committee. Motion was made by Mark, seconded by Chuck to recommend council approval of the payroll register. Motion passed. Clerk/Treasurer's Comments: Schedule for Budget Workshops Shirley stated that, after a discussion with the Mayor, it has been decided to request Council input after the end of April. The Mayor and Shirley will spend the month of April working on balancing and discussing the budgets with the department heads prior to presentations to the Budget/Finance Committee and the Council. The Mayor stated that there is a fifth Tuesday in May (the 24 and he would like to see if the Council would be interested in using that date to go over a portion of the budget. Mayor's Comments: Police Union Update 1 Budget/Finance Committee April 4, 2011 The Mayor stated that he had Shirley e-mail the costs of the proposal to the Council members. The Mayor has not heard anything back from any Council members. Sam suggested that the Council not question the proposal during the meeting and just vote. If it is defeated, the City will go back to the original proposal. Chuck stated that approving this increase makes it look like the police are the only employees that are worth an increase. Mark stated that COLA was zero this year, but the Billings police and fire departments both received an increase of 3% and the non -union employees received a 2.4% increase. Doug stated that he is definitely not happy with the proposal as non -union employees did not receive an increase. The Mayor stated that after 316 is finalized he would like to look at accommodating the non -union employees with some form of increase. Doug stated that he is seriously concerned with the sinking reserve that these increases will cause to the General Fund. The Mayor stated that the City will have to wait and see how House Bill 2 comes out to see if the entitlement share will increase. The Mayor stated that next year's revenues are currently slated to come in at a zero percent increase. The Mayor also brought to the committee's attention that the Fire Relief Pension is still looming over the General Fund, as it is mandatory that the City fund this. Mark stated that the City may have to go to the voters for a mill levy for the pension fund. The Mayor stated that not only might the City have to go to the voters for the fire pension, but also for a Park Maintenance District, as well as a $6.00 /month increase for the sewer update requirements. Shirley mentioned that the Planner's budget may need to be added to the General Fund, as the protested taxes will cause her revenues to be down by almost $16,000. Sam would like to see the unions go to an interest based bargaining where the City states this is the amount of money available and let the union decide how they want to receive it. Other: The Mayor let the committee know that the water meters are still being worked on with Neptune Meters. Kurt is working on costing out what it will take to get them replaced. The Mayor stated that the first meeting with Local 316 will be on the 14` of this month. The Mayor reminded the committee of the meeting on Monday night with Montana Department of Commerce. The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. The agenda will be water, annexation and districting. The Mayor stated that the City has received 14 applications thus far for the CAO position. The submittal of applications closes on April 8, 2011. For next agenda: The next regular Budget/Finance meeting will be Tuesday, April 19th, at 5:30 p.m. The meeting adjourned at 6:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Shirley Ewan, Clerk/Treasurer 2