HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget/Finance Committee Minutes 06.26.2001 MINUTES
BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEE
J~NE 26, 2001 7:00 P.M.
OLD COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MEMBERS PRESENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
chairman Bud Johnson
Ken Olson
Chuck Rodgers
Rick Musson
Mary Embleton
Gay Easton
Mark Mace
Matt Erekson
The Budget/Finance Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Bud Johnson,
at 7:05 p.m., to discuss the following revised budgets:
Police Department Dispatch
City Attorney
Rick began by explaining that it Ms been very difficult keeping a second relief dispatch
employee due to the constantly changing schedules and demands of the job. After
discussion with his staff, Rick became more receptive to the idea of having a
Communications Officer II, which would be more of a supervisory position, working the
3:00 shift plus fill in as relief as needed. The original dispatch budget proposal was less
than last year, but with this revision, it is now more than last year. Rick presented a new
job description, which he obtained from Billings. It is more detailed than the city's
current job description for Communications Officer II. Chuck asked if this proposal
would mean promoting a current dispatcher to the higher position, and then hiring a new
full-time dispatcher, and Rick stated that this was his intent. Bud stated that some tough
decisions would need to be made in the General Fund, and asked Rick if this restructure
is more important at aris time in the communications department rather than restructure
in the police department, based on the concepts presented by Mr. Crockett two years ago.
Rick replied that restructure is more important in the police department, but that this
proposal was important and he would like to see it next year, if not this year. He also
explained that he would like to eventually get another CJIN terminal to help make
dispatching more efficient.
Matt presented a revised budget showing his hours back to 2½ days per week, and then
adding a paralegal position at 30 hours per week. He explained that there is plenty of
backlog left by his predecessor, plus the typical work required by the city, to keep him
very busy for quite some time. He stated that he would like to keep both options on the
table for the committee's consideration. He suggested that the city court could set up its
own Crime Victims fund to bring in additional revenue. Currently, this revenue is sent to
the county. Also, there is potential conflict having the same person shared by both the
attorney and the court.
Budget Work Session
June 26, 2001
Page 2
The committee then turned their attention to the General Fund as a whole. Bud explained
that he would like to work on the Tax Levy Requirement Schedule to determine the level
of cash reserves needed by the city, and then back into the overall appropriations. From
there, the department heads would determine how to fit their budgets into the total.
Lengthy discussion followed focused mainly on the cash reserve level. Mary explained
that the cash reserve is designed to provide adequate cash flow for the first six months, or
until the tax revenues come in. However, other revenue sources in the General Fund
come in monthly and quarterly. Due to the "Big Bill", some of the monthly sources now
become quarterly, so this needs to be kept in consideration when determining a cash
reserve. Also, the cash reserve is a percentage of the appropriations, so if the
appropriations change, so does the cash reserve, or the percentage. A tentative figure of
$600,000 for cash reserve was used in the schedule. Bud stressed that if the city chooses
to use some of the cash reserves this year, it should be clearly stated where it was used
and specify the purpose for which it was used. A key figure, Cash Available as of
6/30/01, won't be determined until after the June books are closed, so it is difficult to
complete the schedule at this time. Bud stated that he would like to see some needs
addressed in the General Fund this year, rather than putting them on "hold", which has
been done so often in the past.
The meeting adjourned at 8:30 p.m. The next regular Budget/Finance Committee
meeting will be Monday, July 2, 2001 at 7:00 p.m., and the next Budget work sessions
will be scheduled at a later time.
Respectfully Submitted,
Mary K. Embleton
Clerk/Treasurer