The New City Budget--Behind the Numbers
After weeks of work on the 2007-08 FY city budget, City Council has given approval to a $9.7 million city budget and a $13.3 million GMSA budget, both less than what was budgeted and approved the previous year.
Councilman Terry Ryan was the lone member who voted against approval of the budget, citing "$713,000 in giveaways." Mentioned were $360,000 to GMSA, $200,000 to the new Health Care Trust Authority, and increases to the airport, Chamber of Commerce, festivals, etc. For example, he said, the Chamber budget was originally $27,000 and then out of nowhere it was increased to $35,000 with no explanation given.
This is $10,000 more than the city's pothole repair budget. Last year's Chamber budget from the city was $18,000.
"We could have done a better job on this budget. We did not do our job," he said. "We under-funded departments and gave away $713,000," Ryan said.
There were no winners this year. Every department of government failed to get what it asked for, which is not all that unusual. There are some expensive projects that are funded, such as the $1,325,000 for the Shundi Road widening project to Highway 10; $250,000 for roof repairs to the Civic Center; $280,000 for a new Cemetery at Olympus North; and $763,000 to the Downtown Redevelopment Project for streetscapes, a new traffic light at Third & Main, and storm drainage work.
GMSA did get enough money to purchase a backup generator at the intake on Honey Creek, although it had asked for two, money in the form of a $50,000 change order for a "bike path" at Harber and Leisure Road, plus $17,800. GMSA also got $20,000 for another utility rate study.
GMSA General Fund received $700,000, transferred from GMSA Capital Fund.
The city police department had requested four new officers but received funds for only one, but at a salary of only $32,000 per year.The hourly rate for several employees was increased and a new part time dispatch position was added. A lengthy laundry list of improvements was sought by Chief Ivan Devitt. There has not been an increase in officers on the Police Department in eight years, despite increases in calls for service each year.
An additional Fireman was added to the Fire Department.
City employees will get a 4% pay raise with the new budget.
The city's contingency fund will be $731,019 in the General Fund and $87,883 in the Capital Fund. GMSA's contingency General Fund is $8400 with zero in the Capital Fund.
City income is budgeted at $9.8 million, down from last year's $10.1 million; GMSA's income is budgeted at $13.7 million, down from $16.7 million last year. By law, the only sources of income for a municipality are sales taxes, fees, and utility revenues.
The total Governing Board account under the city's general fund is budgeted at $1,145,243 including the contingency fund of $731,019. Contributions to organizations total $158,625 including a grant to the Grand Lake Association of $22,000; $35,000 to the Chamber; $20,000 to Grand Lake Festivals; $10,000 to the Playmakers; $37,900 to Pelivan; $3,000 to the Shop Grove Committee; and $15,000 in membership fees to the OML, Grand Lake Association, and Grand Gateway. A donation of $9,500 is being made to the community crises Safe House and $5,000 to DOCS Services.
Expenses under the Administration account from the general fund total $336,619, most of which is salaries for city staff, $238,835. The Finance Department budget totals $68,672; Legal & Courts totals $86,447.
Police Administration took one of the biggest hits. This year's budget is $201,753, down $16,000 from actual expenses in 2005-06. However, Police Dispatch & Jail totals $292,992, up $49,000 from last year's budget; and Patrolman & K-9 is budgeted at $832,737, up $84,000 from last year's budget. The Detectives division is $135,731, up from $128,000 last year; Animal Control is $64,739, up from $57,150 last year, while EMS is $55,641, down from $59,706 last year. A budget of $140,120 is set for the Police Department from the City Capital Account for police equipment, up from $84,841 last year. Included are two new vehicles, a new DARE vehicle and a new animal control vehicle, both 4 wheel drive, at a cost of $45,820.
Fire Department is budgeted at $315,121, up from $287,000 last year, plus $16,750 from City Capital, down from $33,500 budgeted last year.
Street Maintenance budget is set at $574,707, up from $556,000 last year. Street Department budget from City Capital is $2,321,947, down from $3,368,041 budgeted last year.
Vehicle Maintenance is set at $146,036, up from $137,561 budgeted last year.
The Airport Budget from the city's General Fund is $48,096. From City Capital, $421,100, most of which is Grant money.
The new position of Planning & Zoning Director is salaried at $52,001, more than any other city employee except for the new City Manager and the Assistant City Manager.
Other department budgets include:
--Community Development, $428,994, up from $380,192.
--Buildings & Grounds, $385,087, up from $354,987. From City Capital, $622,000, up from $347,228, mostly due to the new cemetery and roof repairs on the civic center.
--City Hall, $32,100, up from $30,700.
--Golden Age Senior Center, $22,000, same as last year
--Civic Center, $102,906, up from $99,487 last year.
--Sports & Rec complex, $22,860, up from $20,740 last year.
--Grove Public Library, $14,100, down from $15,345 last year.
--Swimming Pool operations, $31,319, up from $27,401 last year.
The complete budget is available at City Hall.
Next Week: A look at GMSA's budget.
Councilman Terry Ryan was the lone member who voted against approval of the budget, citing "$713,000 in giveaways." Mentioned were $360,000 to GMSA, $200,000 to the new Health Care Trust Authority, and increases to the airport, Chamber of Commerce, festivals, etc. For example, he said, the Chamber budget was originally $27,000 and then out of nowhere it was increased to $35,000 with no explanation given.
This is $10,000 more than the city's pothole repair budget. Last year's Chamber budget from the city was $18,000.
"We could have done a better job on this budget. We did not do our job," he said. "We under-funded departments and gave away $713,000," Ryan said.
There were no winners this year. Every department of government failed to get what it asked for, which is not all that unusual. There are some expensive projects that are funded, such as the $1,325,000 for the Shundi Road widening project to Highway 10; $250,000 for roof repairs to the Civic Center; $280,000 for a new Cemetery at Olympus North; and $763,000 to the Downtown Redevelopment Project for streetscapes, a new traffic light at Third & Main, and storm drainage work.
GMSA did get enough money to purchase a backup generator at the intake on Honey Creek, although it had asked for two, money in the form of a $50,000 change order for a "bike path" at Harber and Leisure Road, plus $17,800. GMSA also got $20,000 for another utility rate study.
GMSA General Fund received $700,000, transferred from GMSA Capital Fund.
The city police department had requested four new officers but received funds for only one, but at a salary of only $32,000 per year.The hourly rate for several employees was increased and a new part time dispatch position was added. A lengthy laundry list of improvements was sought by Chief Ivan Devitt. There has not been an increase in officers on the Police Department in eight years, despite increases in calls for service each year.
An additional Fireman was added to the Fire Department.
City employees will get a 4% pay raise with the new budget.
The city's contingency fund will be $731,019 in the General Fund and $87,883 in the Capital Fund. GMSA's contingency General Fund is $8400 with zero in the Capital Fund.
City income is budgeted at $9.8 million, down from last year's $10.1 million; GMSA's income is budgeted at $13.7 million, down from $16.7 million last year. By law, the only sources of income for a municipality are sales taxes, fees, and utility revenues.
The total Governing Board account under the city's general fund is budgeted at $1,145,243 including the contingency fund of $731,019. Contributions to organizations total $158,625 including a grant to the Grand Lake Association of $22,000; $35,000 to the Chamber; $20,000 to Grand Lake Festivals; $10,000 to the Playmakers; $37,900 to Pelivan; $3,000 to the Shop Grove Committee; and $15,000 in membership fees to the OML, Grand Lake Association, and Grand Gateway. A donation of $9,500 is being made to the community crises Safe House and $5,000 to DOCS Services.
Expenses under the Administration account from the general fund total $336,619, most of which is salaries for city staff, $238,835. The Finance Department budget totals $68,672; Legal & Courts totals $86,447.
Police Administration took one of the biggest hits. This year's budget is $201,753, down $16,000 from actual expenses in 2005-06. However, Police Dispatch & Jail totals $292,992, up $49,000 from last year's budget; and Patrolman & K-9 is budgeted at $832,737, up $84,000 from last year's budget. The Detectives division is $135,731, up from $128,000 last year; Animal Control is $64,739, up from $57,150 last year, while EMS is $55,641, down from $59,706 last year. A budget of $140,120 is set for the Police Department from the City Capital Account for police equipment, up from $84,841 last year. Included are two new vehicles, a new DARE vehicle and a new animal control vehicle, both 4 wheel drive, at a cost of $45,820.
Fire Department is budgeted at $315,121, up from $287,000 last year, plus $16,750 from City Capital, down from $33,500 budgeted last year.
Street Maintenance budget is set at $574,707, up from $556,000 last year. Street Department budget from City Capital is $2,321,947, down from $3,368,041 budgeted last year.
Vehicle Maintenance is set at $146,036, up from $137,561 budgeted last year.
The Airport Budget from the city's General Fund is $48,096. From City Capital, $421,100, most of which is Grant money.
The new position of Planning & Zoning Director is salaried at $52,001, more than any other city employee except for the new City Manager and the Assistant City Manager.
Other department budgets include:
--Community Development, $428,994, up from $380,192.
--Buildings & Grounds, $385,087, up from $354,987. From City Capital, $622,000, up from $347,228, mostly due to the new cemetery and roof repairs on the civic center.
--City Hall, $32,100, up from $30,700.
--Golden Age Senior Center, $22,000, same as last year
--Civic Center, $102,906, up from $99,487 last year.
--Sports & Rec complex, $22,860, up from $20,740 last year.
--Grove Public Library, $14,100, down from $15,345 last year.
--Swimming Pool operations, $31,319, up from $27,401 last year.
The complete budget is available at City Hall.
Next Week: A look at GMSA's budget.
Labels: City Budget
posted by Editor | 2:15 AM
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