PICKERINGTON CITY COUNCIL
THURSDAY,
NOVEMBER 10, 2005
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
REGARDING PROPOSED 2006 MANAGER’S BUDGET
6:00
P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mayor Shaver called the work session to order at 6:15 P.M., with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. O’Brien, Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Parker, Mr. Sabatino, and Mayor Shaver present. Mr. Wright and Mr. Wisniewski were absent. Others present were: Judy Gilleland, Lynda Yartin, Linda Fersch, Ed Drobina, Jeff Fix, Keith Smith, Christie Hammond, and others.
2. Review and discussion regarding proposed 2006 Manager’s Budget. Mayor Shaver stated the purpose of this work session was to review the proposed 2006 budget. He stated he would turn the work session over to the City Manager at this time.
Ms Gilleland stated she would like to begin by going through the first several pages so everyone could get a feel for the budget, the process, where we are in terms of revenues, expenditures, etc. She stated she would answer any questions anyone may have.
Ms Gilleland stated each year we try to estimate revenues, and the bulk of our revenue comes in the form of income tax and property tax. She stated with a growing community, with businesses changing, and property values changing, it is very difficult to get a handle on the revenues. She stated we try to be very conservative in our estimate, and hopefully they come in a little higher than we estimate. Ms Gilleland stated we do not want to put the City in the position where we’ve over estimated our revenue. She stated because we are now rated through Moody’s we need to maintain a certain general fund balance. She stated government’s do not have savings accounts or a rainy day fund and typically your general fund balance is your rainy day fund or emergency fund. She continued the general fund balance is extremely important, especially now that we are rated, and we want to make sure we keep that up and we want to build on it.
Ms Gilleland stated our budget is in excess of twenty million, and our general fund balance is approximately $700,000, so we want to continue to build up the general fund balance. Mrs. Fersch stated our general fund balance is projected to be $634,000 at the end of the year, and there is a flurry of money that comes in at the end of the year because of income tax estimates, building fees, and things like that. Ms Gilleland stated all departments are doing a good job of managing their budgets. Ms Gilleland stated as we go through the budget if anyone has questions or would like any changes just let her know. Ms Gilleland reviewed the contingency list and stated in the next year we hope to add a few new personnel, a part-time Deputy Municipal Clerk, a full time Finance Clerk, and a full time police officer. She stated these employees have not been included in the budget but are on the contingency list. Ms Gilleland stated during this year we have been able to add approximately 95 percent of our contingency items back into the budget as we were sure the revenues were coming in. She stated she fully anticipated the same thing happening with this contingency list. Ms Gilleland stated she has not established a ranking list of the contingency list as she would like to have some input from Council. Mr. O’Brien stated he felt service items, such as the street paving, should be put at the top of the list so if we can get the revenues back in the first quarter, we can advertise that and pave during warm weather this year. Mr. Sabatino ascertained that at one time the City did give money to the Meals on Wheels program, however, since the levy was passed we do not give them any funds. Mrs. Fersch stated that item, as well as, Brown CooleyAssociates should be removed from the general government listing.
Mayor Shaver stated there are things that council may want to remove from the contingency list, and he would like to know what they felt could be placed on the contingency list in their place. Ms Gilleland stated this is a draft of the budget and she would like any input or suggestions that council may have before the budget is put into final form.
Ms Gilleland reviewed the Fund Analysis, Revenue Comparison, Budget Comparison, Sources and Amounts of Revenue, 2006 Debt Schedule Summary, Major Areas of Expenditure, Police Revenue vs. Expenditures, General Fund Revenues vs. Expenditures, and the General Fund Departmental Expenditures. She stated she would like to give council time to review the budget to see if they would like to schedule another work session.
Mrs. Riggs stated she would like to focus on the areas where we have increases and the contingency items to begin with, and then if there are other areas we want to look at we can handle it at that time. She stated if there were no objections, she would like to continue to discuss the budget at the Finance Committee meeting on November 17th, and she would like all of Council to attend the Finance Committee meeting for this review. Mrs. Riggs stated if, after the discussion at Finance Committee, another work session was necessary we could schedule one at that time. Mrs. Riggs stated she would like to have the council-elect members attend the Finance meeting as well since they will be working with it next year.
Ms Gilleland stated she would like to ensure that Council is comfortable with the budget and all of their questions have been answered. Mr. Sabatino stated there is not a lot that is discretionary, most of the budget is routine stuff that happens anyway, and it is audited each year by the State. Mr. Sabatino stated he does have a problem discussing this at a Finance meeting because the Mayor has stated if you are not a member of a specific committee you are the same as a member of the public sitting in the audience. Mrs. Riggs stated she is the Chairwoman of Finance and anyone who is interested and has questions about the budget, she would suggest they attend the Finance meeting and everyone will have the opportunity to get all of their questions answered.
3. ADJOURNMENT: There being nothing further, the work session closed at 7:25 P.M., November 10, 2005.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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ATTEST:
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