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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget Meeting Minutes 2017-10-26 BUDGET COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE CITY OF ITHACA, NEW YORK Budget Meeting #5 6:00 p.m. 10/26/2017 PRESENT: Alderperson Mohlenhoff – Chair Alderpersons (9): Brock, Decatur, Fleming, Gearhart, Kerslick, McGonigal, Murtagh, Nguyen, Smith Mayor Myrick OTHERS PRESENT: Chief of Staff – Cogan Controller – Thayer Deputy Controller – Andrew Superintendent of Public Works – Thorne Discussion of the Mayor’s Budget Alderperson Mohlenhoff called for a motion to take from the table the motion to approve the Mayor’s budget. A motion to take from the table the motion to approve Mayor’s budget was made by Alderperson Smith, Seconded by Alderperson McGonigal. The motion passed 10-0. Council reviewed the list of potential changes to the budget, including some modifications to the requests above the Mayor’s budget from the Fire Department. Chief of Staff Cogan and Controller Thayer discussed how the taxable assessment in the City dropped slightly since the beginning of the process due to appeals made to the County Assessment Department. As a result, there is now a smaller increase in the total tax levy from keeping the tax rate the same. The tax levy increase as proposed is 2.76%, and the tax cap has risen to 3.0%. The Mayor reviewed the law enforcement assisted diversion (LEAD) program and the proposed LEAD coordinator. Controller Thayer explained how the City currently holds slightly above 15% of operating budget in reserves. If the City were to use all of what was budgeted for both 2017 and 2018, then reserves would will be at 13% of operating budget. AMENDMENTS TO MAYOR’S BUDGET Common Council members moved changes to the budget from the list for discussion and a vote: Budget Committee of the Whole Page 2 10/25/17 Portable Radios for Fire Department A motion to add $31,000 to the tax levy to fund a 20% match for a FEMA grant to purchase portable radios for the Fire Department, was made by Alderperson Kerslick, seconded by Alderperson Fleming. Controller Thayer said that the money would be placed in restricted contingency and could be used if the City is successful in securing the FEMA grant. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed 9-1, with Alderperson McGonigal opposed. Pagers for Fire Department A motion to add $10,500 to the Fire Department budget to purchase new pagers, to be offset by increased revenue from raising fire prevention inspection and plan review fees, was made by Alderperson Brock, seconded by Alderperson Kerslick. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed unanimously (10-0). Hose Replacement for Fire Department A motion to add $11,000 to the Fire Department budget to purchase 1,300 feet of new hose, to be added to the tax levy, was made by Alderperson Brock, seconded by Alderperson McGonigal. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed 6-4, with Alderpersons Decatur, Gearhart, Kerslick, and Murtagh opposed. Working Supervisor – Buildings and Grounds A motion to add $69,922 to the Public Works budget to fund a working supervisor for Buildings and Grounds, to be added to the tax levy, was made by Alderperson Brock, seconded by Alderperson Kerslick. After some discussion about when this person would be hired, a motion to have the position start on April 1, 2018, and to reduce the amount to $52,000, was made by Alderperson Brock, seconded by Alderperson Fleming. A vote on the amendment resulted as follows: Passed 9-1, with Alderperson Mohlenhoff opposed. Alderperson Mohlenhoff said she opposed the amendment because she would like to leave in the full amount. A vote on the main motion resulted as follows: Passed 9-1, with Alderperson Decatur opposed. Motor Equipment Mechanic Helper A motion to add $56,210 to the Public Works budget to fund a Motor Equipment Mechanic Helper, to be added to the tax levy, was made by Alderperson McGonigal, seconded by Alderperson Brock. Budget Committee of the Whole Page 3 10/25/17 Currently there is a seasonal worker fulfilling this role who is being funded out of savings from vacancies in other positions. Because these vacancies have been filled, there will be no money in 2018 to fund this position unless money is added to the budget. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed unanimously (10-0). Additional Paving Crew A motion to add $560,000 to the Public Works budget to fund a seven-person paving crew, to be added to the tax levy, was made by Alderperson McGonigal, seconded by Alderperson Kerslick. A long discussion ensued. The Mayor said he can try to fit it into the 2019 budget. Council discussed whether it should be funded out of capital funds rather than operating funds, but many felt that was poor practice since it means borrowing to pay people’s salaries. It was expressed that this is important for succession planning, since there are several experienced employees retiring soon. Alderperson Kerslick said he would like to see a similar level of analysis from other departments so Council can weigh requests against one another. A motion to reduce the amount to $420,000 was made by Alderperson McGonigal, seconded by Alderperson Brock. A vote on the amendment resulted as follows: Failed 5-5, with Alderpersons Brock, Fleming, McGonigal, Murtagh, and Nguyen in favor. A vote on the main motion resulted as follows: Failed 5-5, with Alderpersons Brock, Fleming, McGonigal, Murtagh, and Nguyen in favor. A motion to add $560,000 to the Public Works budget to fund a seven person paving crew, to be funded out of capital projects, was made by Alderperson Brock, seconded by Alderperson Nguyen. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Failed 3-7, with Alderpersons Brock, McGonigal, and Nguyen in favor. Housing Inspectors A motion to add $36,082 to the Planning, Building and Development Department budget to fund two housing inspectors, to be added to the tax levy, was made by Alderperson Kerslick, seconded by Alderperson Fleming. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed 9-1, with Alderperson Smith opposed. Health and Safety Coordinator A motion to add $28,796 to the Human Resources budget to fund a full-time Health and Safety Coordinator, to be added to the tax levy, was made by Alderperson Brock, seconded by Alderperson Nguyen. Budget Committee of the Whole Page 4 10/25/17 A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed 7-3, with Alderpersons McGonigal, Mohlenhoff, and Murtagh opposed. Gorge Rangers A motion to add $15,000 to the budget to fund the Gorge Ranger program, to be added to the tax levy, was made by Alderperson Fleming, seconded by Alderperson Kerslick. Council discussed that the form the program will take in 2018 will be defined after discussions with the Town and County, but this puts aside money to fund positions once those decisions are made. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed 7-3, with Alderpersons McGonigal, Nguyen, and Smith opposed. Participatory Budgeting A motion to remove $10,000 from the budget for Participatory Budgeting was made by Alderperson Brock, seconded by Alderperson Kerslick. There was a long discussion. It was pointed out that the money will be used to fund the outcome of the participatory budgeting process, not the process itself. It was also pointed out that by the time the process wraps up for 2018, there might not be time to implement the decision until 2019; however, the money must be included in the 2018 budget since Council cannot ensure that funds will be made available in 2019. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Failed 5-5, with Alderpersons Brock, Fleming, Gearhart, Kerslick, and Mohlenhoff in favor. A motion to remove $5,000 from the budget for Participatory Budgeting was made by Alderperson Kerslick, seconded by Alderperson Smith. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed 6-4, with Alderpersons, Gearhart, McGonigal, Murtagh, and Nguyen opposed. Hangar Theatre Contribution A motion to move the $50,000 contribution to the Hangar Theatre from the tax levy to capital spending was made by Alderperson Brock, seconded by Alderperson Gearhart. A motion to reduce the contribution to $25,000 was made by Alderperson McGonigal, seconded by Alderperson Fleming. A vote on the amendment resulted as follows: Failed 3-7, with Alderpersons Decatur, Fleming, and McGonigal in favor. It was suggested that if the City receives free tickets from the Hangar in recognition of its contribution, the tickets should be used for staff recognition. Budget Committee of the Whole Page 5 10/25/17 A vote on the main motion resulted as follows: Passed 9-1, with Alderperson McGonigal opposed. Golf Course A motion to eliminate the $39,000 subsidy for the golf course was made by Alderperson Kerslick, seconded by Alderperson Nguyen. The mayor said that if this passes, he would pursue a different management structure, like a licensing agreement. Council discussed how the golf course is a community resource, and a discussion is needed on how to make it a bigger benefit to the community. This would likely involve making improvements to the club house. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Failed unanimously (0-10). Credit Card Fees A motion to add $5,000 to the Public Information and Technology Department to cover credit card fees, to be offset by increased revenue from raising domestic partnership application fees and residential parking permit fees, was made by Alderperson Kerslick, seconded by Alderperson Brock. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed unanimously (10-0). Committee Chair Salary Stipend A motion to increase the annual salary of the two Common Council committee chairs by $200 each ($400 total) was made by Alderperson McGonigal, seconded by Alderperson Smith. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Failed 2-8, with Alderpersons McGonigal and Smith in favor. Gorge Overlook Fencing A motion to add $25,000 to capital for gorge overlook fencing at the end of Willard Way was made by Alderperson Brock, seconded by Alderperson Murtagh. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed 8-2, with Alderpersons Murtagh and Smith opposed. Hose Replacement for Fire Department A motion to remove $11,000 from the Fire Department budget for new hose was made by Alderperson Murtagh, seconded by Alderperson Smith. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Failed 1-9, with Alderperson Smith in favor. Parking Equipment Communications System A motion to remove $67,400 from capital projects for the Parking Equipment Communications System was made by Alderperson Brock, seconded by Alderperson Kerslick. Budget Committee of the Whole Page 6 10/25/17 Controller Thayer said that there was money in the 2017 capital fund to cover this, and it would be implemented this year. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed unanimously (10-0). Additional Paving Crew A motion to add $280,000 to the Public Works budget to fund a seven-person paving crew for half the year, to be added to the tax levy, was made by Alderperson McGonigal, seconded by Alderperson Fleming. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Failed 3-7, with Alderpersons Brock, McGonigal, and Nguyen in favor. Participatory Budgeting A motion to add back $5,000 to the budget for Participatory Budgeting, restoring it to the full $10,000, was made by Alderperson Smith, seconded by Alderperson Murtagh. Alderperson Smith said he made this motion because the tax rate does not need to increase again in order to pay for it, since there is some excess in collection with the tax rate set at $12.14. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed 6-4, with Alderpersons Brock, Fleming, Kerslick, and Mohlenhoff opposed. Final Vote With no further amendments, Chairperson Mohlenhoff called for a vote on the budget, as amended. A vote on the motion resulted as follows: Passed unanimously (10-0). Meeting Wrap-up The budget will go to Common Council on November 1 for final approval. Adjournment With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:35 p.m.