09-26-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING SEPTEMBER 26. 2016 Fiscal Curb and respectfully asks the Council to approve our 2017 budget request on October 10'h, 2016. Councilmember Karen White asked if the minimum wage increase affects only full time employees or is it directed towards all positions. Mr. Murphy responded it includes all positions. The majority of the individuals would be in the Parks Department. We have an estimate of where all the various positions are broken down at the department level that can be sent to the Council. Councilmember White asked when would the goal of being at $10.10 an hour be reached. Mr. Murphy responded the goals would be to be at that level for the beginning of 2018. Councilmember Oliver Davis asked how much the increase in the LOIT will be in terms of dollars. Mr. Murphy responded that it is an estimated increase of $2.7 million. Councilmember Davis asked if there was any discussion to move up the minimum wage increase to this year and have it at $10.10 for 2017. He recommended raising the lower level positions to that number with that extra money before we start increasing the other positions that are higher salaried. It makes more sense that when we get extra money to take care of those struggling at the lower pay ranges. Mr. Murphy responded we had a number of gaps in funding and currently the way we are spending down COIT we used this money to close those gaps for 2017. Long term we still have an issue with the fiscal curb but this did help close deficits. Councilmember Davis stated over the next few weeks as we look at this, we should consider raising the minimum wage to $10.10 this year. Councilmember Dr. David Varner asked what is the difference between a double A and a single A bond rating in terms of issuance rates. Mr. Murphy responded that it is significant but he doesn't know for sure off the top of his head but it does make a large difference over twenty (20) years. Councilmember Dr. David Varner stated that we are making some of these expenditure assumptions with several negotiations underway. He asked what the City used in regards to Teamsters, Police, and Fire for the budget estimates. Mr. Murphy stated we didn't assume a certain percentage but we did place some money in the budget for increases. If negotiations goes well we feel comfortable that we could bring the General Fund, COIT, EDIT and Public Safety LOIT into balance which would be a significant achievement because those are our core funds. We'll be adjusting the budget after the negotiations are settled. Councilmember Davis asked what page should he go to see the money that the City is spending on fixing up the streets. Mr. Muprhy responded he should go to the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund which is on page two - hundred and two (202). Councilmember Davis stated people want to know that their streets and curbs are taken care of. People want to see that their neighborhoods and not just downtown are being fixed up. Mr. Murphy responded there is a new LOIT, the 2016 LOIT fund of $4.1 million dollars designed only for streets. There are some appropriations in this year's budget and in next year's budget. That is Fund #257, for next year we budgeted $2.13 million dollars for street improvement which is brand new and we have never had that prior to this year. That is a positive for streets that the Council could point to. No one from the public spoke in favor of the bills. Those wishing to speak in opposition: