HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget/Finance Committee Minutes 04.03.2007 CITY OF LAUREL
BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES
APRIL 3, 2007 5:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Chairman Mark Mace
Kate Hart
Mayor Ken Olson (5:45)
Gay Easton
Doug Poehls
OTHERS PRESENT:
Mary Embleton
The Budget/Finance Committee meeting was called to order at 5:37 p.m., by Chairman
Mark Mace. There was no public in attendance.
The minutes of the March 20, 2007 meeting were reviewed and approved via motion by
Doug, seconded by Kate, and passed unanimously.
March claims totaling $724,152.14 were reviewed. Mary informed the committee tbat
over $500,000 of this amount is for the sewer trunk line project. Motion by Doug,
seconded by Kate to recommend approval of the claims by the council. Motion passed
unanimously.
The following purchase requisitions were approved by the committee:
GENERAL FUND:
35 pair leather bunker boots - fire
$ 8,225.00
STREET MAINTENANCE DISTRICT FUND:
Street signs
$ 2,000.00
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT FUND:
Color copier/printer- clerk/treasurer
2007 Chevrolet Impala w/police package - police
$ 7,640.00
$20,181.00
The Comp/OT reports were reviewed for pay period ending 3/25/07. There were two
reports: one for the pay period comp and overtime, and one for the quarter showing the
balances for employees' leave banks.
The Payroll Register for PPE 3/25/07 totaling $108,664.16 was reviewed. Motion by
Kate, seconded by Doug to recommend council approval of the payroll register. Motion
passed unanimously.
Clerk/Treasurer Comments:
Mary reported that the dral~ audit ~ are ready for final review. The final audit
was issued and the city has 30 days to respond. She also told the committee that the
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April 3, 2007
publication notice is ready to go to the papers. She must also send a copy of the audit and
the response to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse. This audit was issued as a "qualified"
audit, which is not as good as an "unqualified" audit. The reason it was issued as
qualified was due to the fact that the city was unable to obtain values to book the assets
received fi.om new subdivisions and/or donations. Examples of these are the values for
streets, curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and utility lines (water/sewer) from newly annexed
subdivisions, namely Elena and Iron Horse Station. Also, the Kids Kingdom value was
not obtained, but needs to be booked as an asset under GASB 34 regulations. This is
addressed in the first response to the audit findings. The committee reviewed all of the
responses in order. Mayor Olson told the committee that Perry Asher has been working
on the Administrative Charges allocations at home, and that he should have them finished
by the end of the week. Once finished, they will be reviewed by the clerk/treasurer and
mayor to determine budgetary impact. The committee agreed with the responses, and
they will be sent on to the state and clearinghouse.
There is no new information on GARVEE bonds to report. The state will send us a
packet of the information they submit to the highway commission. Mary will contact
them next week for an update.
Mary stated that the bud et worksheets are due from department heads on April 6ttr The
MMIA has sent their preliminary rate information, and Mary reported the following:
Workers' comp premium rates decreased by 6%, but the city's MOD factor increased
from .95 to 1.03, which results in an overall increase of 2%; Liability premium rates were
decreased by 2% and the city's MOD factor remained the same at .97, but these
premiums are based on wages, as is workers' comp, so there will he an overall increase;
Property premium rates remained the same, but the city's overall insured value increased
by $1 million, which will mean an overall increase in premium; Employee Benefits
premium rotes increased by only 4.4%. The city can remain on the current plan in total,
or can electe to all go over to the other 4 plans proposed by MMIA, on an individual
basis. Mary prepared a spreadsheet comparing the premium rates of all 5 plans. The
Insurance Committee will meet soon to discuss this issue. The question was raised as to
Council Member Mark Mace's role with the Insurance Committee, since he has not been
notified of the last several Insurance Committee meetings. This will be researched
further and clarified.
Mayor's Comments:
On~oir~ Projects: Mayor Olson updated the committee:
Main Street Water Line Renlacernen~t: The contractor still needs to finish the punch list
items when the asphalt plants are up and nmning this spring.
Sewer Trunk Line Replaeement~ A punch list of items remaining was presented to the
committee for their information. These will be done as soon as weather allows.
800 Ave. Project: Staffis still waiting on state approval. Mayor Olson stated that this
project, as well as some others, is the subject of the Friday Project Meetings with the
Public Works and Public Utilities Directors. The next meeting will be Friday, April 20th,
and one of the things they will be discussing at length will be the storm water issue.
Chad Hanson of G-rent West Engineering will also be there for the discussion. One of the
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Budget/Finance Commi~ee
April 3, 2007
goals of these meetings will be to develop "road maps" into the future, and build a
database of costs and timelines. The city is looking at obtaining computer software to
develop the timelines as a tracking tool for the administrative assistant.
CIP: The mayor and clerk/treasurer will meet on Friday to discuss ways to put the CIP
process in the forefront of the budgeting process, instead of at the end. The mayor hopes
to bring this back to the committee at the next meeting.
Impact Fees: Mayor Oison distributed a newspaper article from the Bozeman Daily
Chronicle reporting that the Belgrade City Council recently voted to adopt impact fees.
This could cost new single-family houses an additional $14,112 as impact fees. The
mayor also had a letter from Dr. Ken Weaver stating that Belgrade contracted with a
consulting firm called TischlerBise for $78,000 to develop these impact fees. The mayor
also had a packet of information fi:om other areas on other types of impact fees, such as
fire district, mad, etc., and he requested more time for review before he reported back to
the committee. Some discussion followed.
Other issues: None.
The next regular meeting will be on Tuesday, April 17th at 5:30 p.m.
For next agenda: Remove audit responses.
The meeting adjourned at 6:17 p.m.
Respeet fl~lly Submitted,
Clerk/Treasurer