HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget/Finance Committee Minutes 05.23.2001 MINUTES
BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEE
MAY 23, 2001 7:00 P.M.
OLD COUNCI~ CI~AMBERS
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Acting Chairman Chuck Rodgers
Ken Olson Mark Mace
OTHERS PRESENT:
Gary Temple
Jan Faught
Terry Ruff
Brent Peters
Mary Embleton
Jim Stevens
Steve Wegner
The Budget/Finance Committee meeting was called to order by Acting Chairman Chuck
Rodgers, at 7:05 p.m., to discuss the following preliminary budgets:
Ambulance
Fire Dept. Fire Disability
Jan began the review of the Ambulance budget by explaining that call-out pay is always
an estimate, based on the number and type of ca/Is in a year. It may need to be increased.
She aiso asked for a raise for herself as she is spending more time on statistics and
preparations for classes, etc. Funding for the additional user for the RAM program will
be taken out of the eta-rent budget. Jan then went through the rest &the ambulance
budget. She proposed to build an ambulance building on the Yellowstone Bank lot
across the street from city hall at a cost of $175,000. Another option would be to expand
the FAP building, and all three departments would be willing to come up with a total of
$15,000 for a detailed design for this. Space is definitely needed by the ambulance.
Lengthy discussion followed regarding space for the fire department, ambulance and
police. Revenues were then discussed, and Jan told the committee that since the county
does not have an ambulance service, then the rates paid by the county would be going up,
resulting in higher revenue for Laurel's ambulance. Mary mentioned new legislation
allowing for a yearly fee to be paid by users for ambulance, whether they use the
ambulance or not. Jan mentioned that an ambulance district may also be an option.
Overall, the ambulance proposed budget is 214% of last year's, but if the building request
is taken out, it is only 99% of last year's budget. Jan also requested that $10,000 be
transferred to the Ambulance Capital Project Fund to be used for furnishing a new
Jim Stevens began the Fire Department budget presentation by telling the committee
that they took out the $15,000 fi'om the fire rental and did a 5% reduction. He also
explained that the department reviews their 10-year plan every year, and they are on track
with it.
Budget Work Session
May 23, 2001
Page 2
Fire Chief Terry Ruff presented the line items for the budget, requesting a pay increase
for the 2~ Assistant Chief Other increases included: office supplies, meal allotment,
uniforms (wild land coveralls), fuel, hose tests, and fire nms. The drought conditions are
currently severe, which means that any fire call will be more expensive in man-hours and
equipment. The department is applying for several different grants to help pay for new
equipment. Their capital outlay request is for a hose test pump kit for $5,125. Overall,
this budget is 89% of last year's budget, or $184,927. Revenue projections from the
districts and equipment rental are $162,970.
The Fire Disability budget was discussed next. An actuarial has recently been
completed for the Fireman's Relief Association. J'ma reported that the association is still
within the 4-10% range, so the city cannot levy any mills. However, at their state
convention in a couple of weeks, they are going to try to get support to encourage the fire
districts to ask the state for the 1½% insurance premiums which currently go into PERS.
The districts, in mm, would be asked to give the FA% to the relief associatiun as
retirement. Currently, the budget shows $10,000 received from the state as revenue, and
$10,000 transferring out to the association as expenditure.
The meeting adjourned at 8:40 p.m. The next regular Budget/Finance Committee
meeting will be Monday, June 4, 2001 at 7:00 p.m., and the next Budget work sessions
will be on Tuesday May 29m, and Wednesday, May 309, all at 7:00 p.m.
ectfully Submi~ed,
Mary K. Embleton
Clerk/Treasurer