City Council Budget and Finance Committee

BILLINGS CITY COUNCIL Budget Committee Meeting Minutes September 11 , 2024 Conference Room, First Floor, City Hall CM: Gulick, Aspenlieder (left @ 9:40 AM), Kennedy, Owen, Rupsis Staff: Kukulski, Zoeller Public/Guest: None Call to Order ( 9:01:00) Approval of August Meeting Minutes (0:00:00) Discussion: Minutes reviewed and discussed Motion / Second: Aspenlieder / Kennedy Vote: All in favor Public Comment (0:00:55) No public comment Topic #1 – Budget Process – Recommended Changes for FY26 Process (0:02:45) Discussion: Chris proposed 4 steps for upcoming budget cycle. (1) Budget Committee makes recommendation in January to Council to set budget priorities / goals. (2) When draft budget is presented to Budget Committee, Chris & Andy will present an overall budget picture before department presentations are done. This may be done in 2 separate presentations, one for GF/PS and one for enterprise funds. (3) Schedule longer meetings on department level discussions. (4) Budget Committee makes final recommendations to Council. Wide-ranging discussion on various budget topics like facilities, internal services, staff’s expectations of Budget Committee, value/goal of Council’s strategic planning meeting, etc. Discussion on line-item budgets. Chris and Andy to discuss and bring ideas to next agenda. Budget Committee will discuss proposed steps at next meeting. Topic #2 – Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) Update and Discussion (0:56:00) Discussion: Covers assets with useful life of 3 years or more and value greater than $25,000, not including vehicles. Departments are now completing CIP project templates. Plan is to present to next Budget Committee meeting on Oct 16, Council work session in November, adoption by Council in December. Topic #3 – Potential to add Parks Assets into Equipment Replacement Plan (ERP) (1:08:00) Discussion: Presentation of what a parks ERP would look like and why it might be a benefit. Request to Committee to consider requesting staff do the analysis on what it would look like. Request that staff analyze what this would look like just for playgrounds. Committee Discussion, Future Agenda Items, Meeting Schedule (1:18:35) Oct 16 agenda items – FY26 budget cycle steps, line item budget ideas, FY26-30 CIP presentation, discussion on city-owned historical properties (Babcock, Depot, Albert Bair, Moss Mansion), Q1 financial recap, BFD budget and payroll challenges. Discussion on utility bill software conversion project management. Motion to adjourn: Kennedy / Rupsis Vote: All in favor Adjourned at 10:35 AM (1:34:00)