City Commission Special Budget Meeting Summary - February 27, 2008
Budget Meeting
The City Commission met in special budget meeting session and took the following action:
Received a Power Point update presentation on the FY2008 City of Tallahassee Budget and General Fund projected deficit, and preliminary budget projections for FY2009 and beyond
Voted 5-0 to approve the staff's recommendation on the 2008 Budget adjustment, with the exception of the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) liability, and suggested that some options be brought back in that regard (Staff clarified that this eliminated the 34 frozen positions; directed staff to bring back some recommendations on the deobligation of the General Fund portion of OPEB liability, which would eliminate $822,000 from the General Fund; authorized a transfer from GG/CPA to GG/CIF using the fund balance for capital projects instead of a cash transfer; and froze all operating expenses of the General Fund by 5% until further notice.)
Commissioner Lightsey suggested that staff:
- bring back an analysis of providing 1 ½% salary enhancements for the General Fund employees so as to provide some level of parity in the wage scales;
- work out arrangements with the County regarding the Fire Service Fee contract in FY09 which would not require City subsidy;
- evaluate the Take Home Vehicle Policy, and include Police;
- analyze the privatization of Fleet maintenance;
- analyze privatizing first and selling the Hilaman Golf Course second;
- move forward with creating a Regional Transit Authority with a goal of cutting the City's subsidy to StarMetro;
- relating to special events, continue with Spring Time, Celebrate America, and the Winterfest, and charge half the cost of Police and Solid Waste services;
- increase fees to cover Adult Sports costs;
- sell the Utilities Drive-Thru facility;
- re-evaluate the Neighborhood Infrastructure Enhancements Program (NIEP) to adjust for percentage cost increases and reduce the funding of NIEP projects to cover the increased costs, possibly rebidding some projects to obtain more accurate costs.
Commissioner Katz cited the following for consideration:
- do the short term actions recommended;
- reduce the travel budget by one-half and make it essential travel only, letting the City Manager make that determination;
- sell the Utilities Drive-Thru facility;
- agreed with the suggestion to enhance the salaries for existing employees, as they would be asked to do more, although he was unsure of the percentage;
- opposed to reducing the NIEP funding;
- supported selling the Hilaman Golf Course property;
- support reducing the amount available for special events;
- consider functional consolidation in a significant way and have a working group on that;
- support eliminating security costs at City Hall and the Gemini Building;
- increase Adult Sports fees so that it is self supporting;
- oppose closures of community centers;
- do something about the non-social service donations;
- opposed to collapsing the Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRAs)
- take no action on the retirement issue;
- need more information on a Transportation Utility Fee;
- investigate consolidating the TV stations of the City, County and School Board;
- indicated the need for information to help identify priorities and areas for funding reductions; and,
- requested that the staff bring back some modification and real numbers on the OPEB issue.
Commissioner Mustian requested that the staff bring back:
- a chart showing the fluctuations of transfers to the General Fund;
- expressed a preference for paying the OPEB liability to the General Fund rather than pushing it out;
- indicated that he would be willing to consider selling some properties;
- requested a re-evaluation of the items previously retained in the FY2008 budget; and,
- no objections to Commissioner Lightsey's or Commissioner Katz's suggestions.
Mayor Marks requested that the staff provide:
- written information on the rationale for establishing reserves and their importance, for the benefit of the public;
- information distinguishing between the impacts of Amendment 1 and the economic downturn;
- information on the relationship between revenues and what they were used for; and,
- cost analyses of all suggestions.
Commissioner Gillum requested that the staff bring back:
- a report on customer usage of the Utilities Drive-Thru facility;
- that StarMetro be asked to develop some creative routes before making any reductions in that area;
- noting that a Regional Transit Authority would take some time but would expand opportunities for federal and state funding, suggested the need for more information on that issue;
- requested information on how the Fire Services deficits were being projected and the level of services that would be provided absent a contract with Leon County, and what the Fire deficit is with and without the County;
- information on the potential for collaboration with Leon County on the Northwest Park; and,
- include streamlining essential services, to also include quality of life issues as well as human and social services.
CTC:RM:ecg:02-29-08