Town Council

MINUTES ALTA TOWN COUNCIL BUDGET COMMITTEE VIRTUAL MEETING Tuesday, March 1, 2022, 3:30 PM Alta Community Center, 10351 E. Highway 210, Alta, Utah PRESENT: Mayor Roger Bourke Council Member John Byrne NOT PRESENT: Council Member Elise Morgan Budget Committee member Craig Heimark STAFF PRESENT: John Guldner, Town Administrator Chris Cawley, Assistant Town Administrator Marshal Mike Morey Jen Clancy, Deputy Town Clerk Piper Lever, Town Clerk COMMITTEE MEETING 1. CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND DECLARATION Mayor Bourke called the meeting to order at 3:31 pm without an anchor location per a February 17, 2022 determination letter. 2. DISCUSSION REGARDING FY2022 and FY2023 TOWN OF ALTA BUDGETS Town Clerk Piper Lever started the discussions by displaying a spreadsheet summarizing two years of prior budgets, current budget and a proposed future budget. Roger asked why the projected revenue was less than the approved budgeted amount. The answer was that less money would be transferred into the General Fund for an old water debt and capital projects. Those two items alone totaling $65K, ($40K for water debt payment and $25 K for the Tom Moore building restoration), make up the bulk of the decrease. John Byrne explained that the water debt at issue is being examined to see if the Town can forgive it and, if so, the best way to do that. There is no impetus to leave the line item in this budget or even FY23. Piper explained that the FY2022 numbers would be changing as the fiscal cycle progresses. It is likely that the actual tax, permits and services revenue will be higher than budgeted and can be adjusted closer to year end. John Byrne added that for FY2023 budgets, unexpected increases have emerged such as the wage pressure which will result in making the Town look for other revenue, such as the property tax. This started the conversation about the imbalanced dependency on sales tax in our tax revenue category. JB talked about the stability that the property tax revenue offers to the Town finances as opposed to the possible chaotic trends of uncontrollable factors. Coupled with historically high cost of living and consumer price index increases leading to higher than normal wage increases, the Town needs more revenue to cover the cost of providing municipal services by way of an experienced and capable staff. In order to retain staff, the Town needs to offer competitive wages, which is the thinking behind a 10% increase in FY2023.There was a suggestion to raise the certified tax rate less, more than once. John G said there were different trains of thought on that subject. The Town could do a truth in taxation hearing once to achieve its goal or you Alta Town Council Special Meeting March 1, 2022 1 can lessen the increase and do the truth in taxation hearing every year. The downside of doing a little each year is that you don’t reach your goal until later. The Committee reviewed all of the department line item changes. Discussion ensued regarding a variety of issues such as wage increases, traffic congestion, impact funds, ACVB, capital projects, water system improvements. Piper agreed to schedule a catch-up meeting with Elise and Craig after they have watched this meeting on you tube to receive any comments or questions. JB suggested the next budget committee meeting could be a work session before a regular meeting to present the budgets to the whole Council. There was discussion about the appropriate timing for such a session. Perhaps before both the April and May meetings. 3. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 5:23 pm Passed this 13th day of April, 2022 _________________________________ Piper Lever, Town Clerk Alta Town Council Special Meeting March 1, 2022 2