07-28-09 Budget Hearings - Personnel and Finance Committee

Home Browse Search

~1 ~! 2010 BUDGET HEARINGS PERSONNEL AND FINANCE COMMITTEE JULY 28, 2009 The July 28, 2009 Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting was called to order by its Chairperson Tom LaFountain at 5:03 p.m. Committee Member's in Attendance: Karen L. White; David Varner Other Council Member's: Derek Dieter; Ann Puzzello; Tim Rouse; Henry Davis; Al "Buddy" Kirsits Other's Present: Gary Gilot; Catherine Fanello; Chuck Leone; John Murphy; Catherine Toppel; MaryAnn Myers; Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand; Jeff Parrott; Jeff Gibney; Tom Price; Mikki Dobski; Aladean DeRose; Jerry Niezgodski AGENDA: MAYOR'S OPENING REMARKS/BUDGET OVERVIEW Chairperson Tom LaFountain opened the 2010 budget review process by recognizing Mayor Luecke who put the budget review in context. The Mayor began by announcing some "good News" just received from the federal government. He said that as a part of the federal stimulus package the city would receive a grant of nearly $2.5 million to retain 13 police officers through a 3 year grant. The only stipulation being the need to retain the officers for 12 months after the grant expires. Details of the award are in an attached press release dated 7-28-09. The Mayor went on to say the city had also grant applications in process to retain fire-fighters. He went on to describe the challenges of putting together a budget for 2010 when 2008 revenues from property taxes and'09 rates and revenues have yet to move out of limbo. Tax collection rates once bills do get mailed are estimated at .95%. This along with estimated LOIT collections further complicate identifying revenues realistically. All in all budgets presented conservatively estimated are built on an expected decline in revenue of $6 - $8 million from previous pre-HEA 1011-08 effects. The Mayor spoke about finer points covered in handout #2 attached. The Mayor emphasized prior to the passage of LOIT the city expected a 27% cut in revenues. City Department Heads were instructed to prepare worst-case scenario budgets. LOIT's passage reduces the expected shortfalls from $12 million to a somewhat more manageable $6 - $8 million less. An overview of how, where, and to what extent managers had to adjust their budgets is detailed in a press release dated 7-28-091isted here as attachment #3. The 3rd attachment also adheres to the priorities the Council related to the Mayor. That is then, a restoration of earlier cuts in police, fire, and park budgets using the funds recently made available by the LOIT passage.