Committee of the Whole

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Committee of the Whole of the Council met on April 16, 2009, with the Vice Mayor presiding. The meeting focused on the Mayor's Fiscal Year 2010 proposed budget, with four informational agenda items presented to the committee. During the meeting, the committee heard three public comments and took one motion to a vote. The presentations covered the Mayor's FY 2010 budget proposal, revenue projections and economic analysis, the budget reduction process and position cuts, and transfers and one-time revenue sources.

Attendance

The following individuals were present at the meeting on April 16, 2009:

• Mary Fister-Tucker
• Dr. Blues
• Council Member Ballas
• Council Member James
• Council Member Gordon
• Council Member Feigl

No absences or late arrivals were recorded.

Votes and Decisions

Motion to Adjourn

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn 1:03:35. The motion passed by voice vote with no opposition. Council Member Ballas, Council Member James, Council Member Gordon, Council Member Feigl, and Dr. Blues voted in favor of adjournment. No votes were cast against the motion, and there were no abstentions.

Budget and Financial Actions

The meeting included approval of several fund transfers to address financial needs:

• Internal Revenue Bond Fund Transfer: $100,000 transferred to the Office of Economic Development

• Municipal Aid Fund Transfer: $1.2 million transferred to support streets, roads, and forestry, and engineering functions

• Landfill Fund Transfer: $1,000,000 transferred from the landfill fund to balance the general fund, resulting from a contract renewal with Republic

• Prisoners Activity Fund Transfer: $1,900,000 transferred from the Prisoners Activity Fund to support the general fund

• Mineral and Coal Severance Funds Transfer: $1,200,000 transferred from mineral and coal severance funds to support the general fund

These transfers totaled $5.4 million across multiple funding sources to address general fund requirements and support specific departmental operations.

Public Comment

Three council members posed questions during the public comment period regarding various aspects of the proposed budget.

Property Tax Exemptions and Demographics 54:28

Council Member James asked whether the budget accounts for homestead and disability exemptions, and whether demographic trends are factored into property tax estimates. Staff clarified that exemptions are not tracked in advance and that any changes to exemptions would not affect the 2010 budget due to the January 2010 effective date.

Rainy Day Fund and Revenue Contingencies 1:00:36

Council Member Feigl inquired whether a shortfall in revenue projections would trigger use of the Economic Contingency Fund. Staff explained that the budget assumes use of $560,000 from the FY09 fund balance and that the contingency fund remains available if needed to address any revenue shortfalls.

County Attorney's Office Funding 51:09

Council Member Ballas noted that the county attorney's office had received no reduction despite cuts to other departments, and asked about the reason for this exception. Staff clarified that the office had received additional funding after FY09 adoption, so the 2010 budget actually reflected a cut relative to that newly established funding level rather than an increase or exemption from reductions.

Contested Items

Use of Economic Contingency Fund

Council members raised concerns about the reliance on the Economic Contingency Fund during budget discussions. However, clarification emerged during public comments that the budget structure was designed to avoid drawing from the fund, thereby preserving it for potential future shortfalls. This approach addressed the underlying concerns about depleting reserves while maintaining fiscal flexibility for unforeseen circumstances.

Mayor's FY 2010 Proposed Budget Presentation

3:00

Mary Fister-Tucker presented the mayor's proposed budget for fiscal year 2010. The presentation outlined a comprehensive financial plan with the following key figures and parameters:

Budget Overview - Total appropriations: $558.2 million - General fund appropriations: $279.3 million - Assumed revenue growth: 1.8%

Staffing and Personnel - No layoffs planned - Elimination of 96 full-time positions - Addition of 5 new positions - 1% raise for non-bargaining employees

Cost Management - Required contract increases included in the budget - $3.5 million in operating reductions identified - Minimal impact on services from proposed reductions

The presentation was informational in nature, providing the council with details on the proposed budget allocation and the financial assumptions underlying the fiscal year 2010 spending plan. The budget reflected efforts to maintain service levels while managing costs through operational efficiencies and controlled staffing adjustments.

Revenue Projections and Economic Analysis

13:25

Mary Fister-Tucker presented the revenue projections and economic analysis for the budget discussion. She detailed several key revenue forecasts:

Property Tax Growth Fister-Tucker projected 4.4% growth in property taxes, basing this estimate on permit data analysis.

Employee Withholdings The analysis included a projected 3.6% growth in employee withholdings.

Business Tax Returns A decline in business tax returns was projected as part of the overall revenue assessment.

Analytical Basis Fister-Tucker cited analysis from Dr. Ken Trouski and referenced historical trends to support the revenue projections. She emphasized that these assumptions were conservative in nature.

Budget Contingency An important point highlighted during the presentation was that the budget does not rely on the Economic Contingency Fund, indicating that the proposed budget stands on its own without depending on emergency reserves.

The discussion was presented as informational, with the outcome focused on providing the governing body with detailed economic analysis to inform budget decisions.

Budget Reduction Process and Position Cuts

34:52

Mary Fister-Tucker presented the budget reduction process implemented to address fiscal constraints. The approach involved multiple reduction targets: 10% operating cuts, along with 7.5% and 15% total budget cuts across different categories.

A key decision in the process was to restore filled positions from the initial cut lists. This strategy was designed to minimize layoffs and preserve essential services while still achieving necessary budget reductions. Rather than eliminating positions that were actively staffed, the administration focused the cuts on vacant positions.

The final outcome of this process resulted in the elimination of 96 vacant positions while simultaneously adding five new positions. This net reduction of 91 positions allowed the organization to meet budget targets while maintaining continuity in staffed operations and limiting the impact on current employees.

The discussion was presented as informational, with the outcome reflecting a deliberate approach to balancing fiscal responsibility with workforce stability and service preservation.

Transfers and One-Time Revenue Sources

42:05

Mary Fister-Tucker presented an overview of transfer changes and one-time revenue sources affecting the budget.

Transfer Changes

Fister-Tucker outlined several key modifications to planned transfers:

• A transfer of $1.2 million from the Municipal Aid Fund
• A transfer of $100,000 from the IRB fund
• Elimination of a $370,000 transfer to the stormwater fund

One-Time Revenue Sources

The discussion included identification of several one-time revenue sources available to the budget:

• A $1 million contract payment from Republic
• Mineral and coal severance funds
• The Prisoners Activity Fund

Outcome

This agenda item was presented as informational, with Fister-Tucker detailing the specific transfer amounts and revenue sources without recorded debate or concerns being raised during this portion of the meeting.