City Council

October 29, 2012 CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS Budget Workshop City Council Room 6:30 PM PRESENT: Michele Madigan, Commissioner of Finance John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW Christian Mathiesen, Commissioner of DPS STAFF PRESENT: Lynn Bachner, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Sharon Kellner-Byrnes, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS ABSENT: Scott Johnson, Mayor Shauna Sutton, Deputy Mayor EXCUSED: Tim Cogan, Deputy Commissioner, DPW RECORDING OF PROCEEDING The proceedings of this meeting were taped for the benefit of the secretary. Because the minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings, the minutes are not a word-for-word transcript. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Madigan called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. BUDGET WORKSHOP Commissioner Madigan advised this is the fifth budget workshop for the 2014 Comprehensive Budget. They will discuss revenue and reserves tonight. She has 2 changes to suggest on the revenue side from what was originally proposed for the 2014 comprehensive budget: o The first is sales tax. She is proposing this be increased from $10,450,000 to $10,500,000. o The second change is an increase to building permits from $185,000 to $235,000. Commissioner Madigan advised equipment costs in the 2014 comprehensive budget totaled $583,667 of which she recommended that $198,000 be offset with 2012 excess fund balance. This is for a geographic information system (GIS) to be shared by the Planning and Building Departments; a city-wide computer replacement of obsolete equipment; a pick-up truck; laptops for police vehicles; and a copier for the Recreation Department. Commissioner Madigan advised the debt service budget totals $3.3 million dollars with $100,000 of it being offset with 2012 excess fund balance. Commissioner Madigan advised the reserve fund for the payment of bonded indebtedness was established at the 10/15/13 City Council meeting. She is recommending that it be funded with $175,000 of the 2012 excess fund balance; and $100,000 of this to be included in the debt service budget. Commissioner Madigan advised an insurance reserve fund was also set up at the 10/15/13 City Council meeting. She is recommending they fund this reserve with $130,000 of 2012 fund balance excess. Budget Workshop 10/29/13 Commissioner Madigan advised that she will bring her recommendations forward for the amended budget at the next budget workshop on Thursday, October 31st. Commissioner Scirocco advised his top priority is getting the full time account clerk. He currently has this person working part time for him. He would like to move the amount from that person’s line for next year and the money in the engineering overtime to the full time account clerk line. There will be money taken from other areas to fund this; no additional funding is being requested. Commissioner Madigan confirmed Commissioner Scirocco has someone in mind for this position. Commissioner Scirocco advised this person currently works for him in a part time capacity. If she were to come on full time, she wouldn’t be taking health insurance as she has coverage elsewhere. Commissioner Madigan confirmed that this is his priority of all the things he requested. Commissioner Scirocco advised there are 2 other things but he believes they can manage. They have an additional pick-up coming in. Commissioner Mathiesen advised the addition of a laborer part time person would be his preference over signs and posts. Commissioner Madigan advised they have 2 changes in her department: one for health insurance for $22,500. She passed out a list of all changes to the Council. If they were to make all of the changes requested, the total would be $181,663.49. This would bring our increase to 1.68% which exceeds the tax cap for this year which is 1.66%. She is not willing to go to 1.68%. She would also like to see contingency increased. It is currently at $150,000 and would like to see it at $200,000. ADJOURNMENT Commissioner Madigan moved and Commissioner Mathiesen seconded to adjourn the meeting. Ayes – All There being no further business, Commissioner Madigan adjourned the meeting at 6:53 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 11/4/13 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 2 of 2