10-24-16 Personnel and Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

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Bill No. 63 -16: Fixing salaries and wages for non - bargaining City Employees for 2017 Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion to accept the Substitute Bill 63 -16 on file with the City Clerk's Office. Councilmember Regina Williams- Preston seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of four (4) ayes. John Murphy, City Controller with offices on the 12t' Floor of the County -City Building, served as the presenter and petitioner of this bill. Mr. Murphy provided a handout to the Committee, which is on file with the City Clerk's Office, that is a summary of all changes made to the budget since the initial department presentations. The summary has references so that a reader can see exactly where in the budget that budget item is listed. Mr. Murphy detailed the changes on the budget since the department presentations which are all listed on the handout. The major highlight is the minimum wage increase to $10.10 for the lowest paid employees. Our key funds, such as the General Fund, COIT, and LOIT funds, are balanced and revenue equals expenditures. Mr. Murphy stated there has been a lot of discussion surrounding the salary ordinance. The total non - bargaining wages are estimated to increase two point four percent (2.4 %) with the typical increase being two percent (2 %). Certain positions are at a higher or lower level than the two percent and are outlined in the ordinance itself. The ordinance shows the history of a position from 2011 to 2017. We are trying to be transparent in that process. Councilmember Davis asked when did we start using TIF dollars to pay for employee salaries. Mr. Murphy responded that for a few years we have been reimbursing some legal costs to the Legal Department through TIF but that is it. Our Legal Department has been doing research on this issue and has determined that under certain conditions it is appropriate to use TIF dollars to pay for salaries. We budgeted out the Engineering Department which would be reimbursed as we do inter -fund transfers. Essentially, after the project we would pay the bill to ourselves. Councilmember Davis asked if that is a system that would be used for other departments. Mr. Murphy stated only, when the employee specifically works on a TIF project. Councilmember Davis stated this is different because we have spoken over the last nine (9) years it has never been brought to the Council to utilize TIF funds in these ways. Mr. Murphy stated we were doing a couple of things differently with TIF in this budget. One (1) of our Assistant City Attorneys researched the statute and came to this conclusion. We have to look case by case for some of the broader employees. Councilmember Davis asked for the reasoning to be.given to the Council before tonight because there could be a tremendous amount of employees who you could refund from TIF who work in TIF areas. He stated this opens up the discussion and widens the scope. Councilmember White stated the question was posed at one (1) of our Committee meetings where the Council asked the Administration to look into ways of using TIF monies in an 2