Budget COW-Revenue Projections

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Committee of the Whole Budget Meeting convened on April 26, 2011, at 1:30 p.m., presided over by the Vice Mayor. The meeting addressed two main agenda items: a presentation on the Mayor's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Revenue Projections, which was presented for informational purposes, and a discussion of LINCS and the budget process schedule, which was approved. The committee took two motions to a vote during the session and heard seven public comments from members of the community. The meeting focused on fiscal planning and budget procedures for the upcoming fiscal year.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on April 26, 2011:

Staff and Officials: - Bill O'Meara - Ryan Barrow - Elizabeth McGee - Jane Driscoll - Richard Maloney

Council Members: - Council Member Beard - Council Member Martin - Council Member Crosby - Council Member Henson - Council Member Myers - Council Member Lawless - Council Member Farmer - Council Member Blues - Council Member Ellinger - Council Member Ford - Council Member Stenet - Council Member Kaye - Council Member McCord

Other Attendees: - Jeanette - Kevin - Jared

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Motion to Amend Committee of the Whole Meeting Time 1:07:23

Council Member Ellinger moved to amend the meeting time for the Committee of the Whole budget meeting on May 12th to 4:30 p.m. to discuss the mayor's proposed restructure of the budget. Council Member Farmer seconded the motion.

The motion passed by voice vote. All council members present voted in favor: Council Members Ellinger, Farmer, Blues, Crosby, Henson, Myers, Lawless, Martin, Ford, Stenet, Kaye, and McCord. No votes were cast against the motion, and there were no abstentions.

Motion to Move Council Meeting to 7:00 p.m. 1:09:07

Council Member Ford moved to move the Council meeting to 7:00 p.m. on May 12th to allow additional time for restructuring discussion. Council Member Farmer seconded the motion.

This motion was withdrawn and did not proceed to a vote.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included approval for funding related to an indirect cost allocation study. A consultant was appropriated $25,000 to conduct this study. No additional details regarding the consultant's identity, the study's scope, or implementation timeline were provided in the available meeting materials.

Public Comment

Council members raised several concerns about the budget process, timeline management, and specific service decisions during this meeting.

Budget Process and Timing

Council Member Farmer [0:46:21] expressed concerns about insufficient time between the bonding debt discussion and the first link report out. Farmer urged the council to discuss policy goals and priorities earlier in the process to avoid rushed decisions.

Council Member Martin [0:59:24] noted that the timeline for reviewing proposed amendments and making decisions on reorganization is too tight. Martin suggested holding a special work session to discuss the restructure before final decisions are made.

Council Member Ford [1:12:55] emphasized the need to define council priorities early in the link process to guide cuts and avoid inefficiencies. Ford questioned how additional cuts would improve efficiency given prior reductions.

Council Member McCord [1:31:56] urged the council to address the recurring issue of insufficient time for critical decisions, calling for process reform to avoid annual crises.

Service Delivery and Cost Considerations

Council Member Henson [1:19:03] highlighted the importance of considering not just the cost of layoffs but also the true cost of outsourcing services, such as security, and the impact on service quality.

Council Member Lawless [1:23:33] noted that most positions being cut have been vacant for years and were funded by the council, questioning the fairness and necessity of layoffs.

Immediate Decisions Required

Council Member Stimmit [1:25:24] stressed the urgency of deciding on the closure of pools and golf courses immediately, warning that delays would prevent proper preparation for the summer season.

Contested Items

Timing of Critical Decisions on Pools and Golf Courses

Council members engaged in heated discussion regarding the urgency of making closure decisions for pools and golf courses before Memorial Day. Members expressed concern that any delays in reaching these decisions would prevent adequate preparation time and could result in operational failures. The contention centered on the need to act quickly to ensure proper implementation of whatever decisions the council would make regarding these facilities.

Budget Process Schedule and Capacity

A split vote occurred over a proposal to extend the meeting time on May 12th to 7:00 p.m. to accommodate additional discussion time for restructuring matters. Some council members argued in favor of the extension, believing the additional time was necessary for thorough deliberation. However, other members opposed the extension, contending that it would be impractical due to prior scheduling commitments. The disagreement reflected differing views on how to balance the need for adequate discussion time against existing calendar constraints and logistical considerations.

Mayor's Proposed Fiscal Year 2012 Budget Revenue Projections

Bill O'Meara presented the revenue projections for the mayor's proposed Fiscal Year 2012 budget 3:00. The presentation outlined a total revenue estimate of $271 million, with O'Meara noting that growth would be minimal due to reliance on one-time revenues.

Key Projections and Assumptions

The presentation highlighted several important assumptions underlying the revenue forecast:

• Real growth estimates for the budget period
• Tax amnesty revenues
• End-of-term fees
• Changes in specific revenue categories including EMS, golf, and parks operations

Discussion and Questions

Council members raised several questions during the presentation:

• Council Member Martin, Council Member Beard, Council Member Henson, and Council Member Myers engaged with O'Meara on various aspects of the projections
• Questions focused on net profit trends across revenue-generating departments
• Council members inquired about building permit revenues and their projected performance
• Discussion included examination of indirect cost allocations and their impact on departmental revenues

Outcome

The agenda item was informational in nature, with no formal action taken. The presentation provided the council with detailed information about the revenue assumptions and projections that would form the basis of the proposed FY12 budget, allowing members to understand the financial foundation for the upcoming fiscal year's spending plan.

LINCS Discussion and Budget Process Schedule

49:05

The council discussed the proposed schedule for the LINCS (budget process) timeline, including the timing of link report outs and the need for additional meetings to accommodate the budget review process.

Key Discussion Points

Council members raised concerns about the adequacy of the proposed schedule for making critical decisions. Specifically, concerns were voiced about having insufficient time for decisions regarding pools and golf courses. Council members emphasized the need for early prioritization of these items to allow adequate time for thorough consideration.

Motion and Outcome

A motion was passed to schedule a Committee of the Whole meeting for May 12th at 4:30 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the mayor's proposed restructure.

Participants

The discussion involved Mr. Schoeniger, Council Member Farmer, Council Member Blues, Council Member Ellinger, Council Member Ford, Council Member Martin, and Council Member Stimmit.

The agenda item was approved.