Hold a Public Hearing to receive comments for or against Resolution 2024-43R, approving a Budget Policy Statement for preparation of the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year budget; and declaring an effective date; and consider approval of Resolution 2024-43R.
Item 16: Budget Policy Statement FY 2024-2025
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JHughson
CoSM Members
I think the title of the document should be DRAFT, not ADOPTED. But by the time we would change it, it will be adopted. Could cause some questions being in the packet this way.
There are no tracked changes in the document beginning on page 248. That's OK. I can work through it.
Page 1 II Revenue.
"Develop a plan to regularly review fees. Impact fees will be revised based on master plan updates."
I thought we had a plan that basically split most fees into one of three groups with a group being reviewed each year. Are we following it? If we have a plan can we please insert it into this document? And the last FY that we reviewed fees for each group? (Wish I had thought of this years ago.)
How often have we been doing annual rate studies?
What is the cost?
III. EXPENDITURES
bullet 2
"If capacity allows, continue investment in staff by..." What defines "capacity allows?"
bullet 3
Health insurance will be evaluated and presented to Council during the budget process based on plan needs. Staff anticipates any additional
funding needed is included as part of the 3-5% increase in personnel costs stated above.
Since these are in the same paragraph, is the "additional funding" solely health insurance costs?
Where is the "3-5% increase in personnel costs stated above" - I don't see it.
I. FUND BALANCE
Electric Utility Fund: Work towards [space] 90 days of recurring operating expenses.
Stormwater Utility Fund: Maintain [space] 90 days of recurring operating expenses.
III. EXPENDITURES, GENERAL FUND, bullet 5
"Continue funding City hosted events in the combined amount of $60,000 for all events (Veterans Day, Summer Fest Fireworks, and Arts
Commission Special Events)." What about other events such as Sights and Sounds?
III. EXPENDITURES, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND
Amendments coming: Add text in caps. These seem a bit short on clarity.
Allocate funding for historical restoration and preservation PROJECTS based on capacity and explore how we can meet the 51% of tourism function REQUIREMENT.
Use hotel tax funding for the City’s branding PLANS and incorporate a community input component.
There are no tracked changes in the document beginning on page 248. That's OK. I can work through it.
Page 1 II Revenue.
"Develop a plan to regularly review fees. Impact fees will be revised based on master plan updates."
I thought we had a plan that basically split most fees into one of three groups with a group being reviewed each year. Are we following it? If we have a plan can we please insert it into this document? And the last FY that we reviewed fees for each group? (Wish I had thought of this years ago.)
How often have we been doing annual rate studies?
What is the cost?
III. EXPENDITURES
bullet 2
"If capacity allows, continue investment in staff by..." What defines "capacity allows?"
bullet 3
Health insurance will be evaluated and presented to Council during the budget process based on plan needs. Staff anticipates any additional
funding needed is included as part of the 3-5% increase in personnel costs stated above.
Since these are in the same paragraph, is the "additional funding" solely health insurance costs?
Where is the "3-5% increase in personnel costs stated above" - I don't see it.
I. FUND BALANCE
Electric Utility Fund: Work towards [space] 90 days of recurring operating expenses.
Stormwater Utility Fund: Maintain [space] 90 days of recurring operating expenses.
III. EXPENDITURES, GENERAL FUND, bullet 5
"Continue funding City hosted events in the combined amount of $60,000 for all events (Veterans Day, Summer Fest Fireworks, and Arts
Commission Special Events)." What about other events such as Sights and Sounds?
III. EXPENDITURES, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND
Amendments coming: Add text in caps. These seem a bit short on clarity.
Allocate funding for historical restoration and preservation PROJECTS based on capacity and explore how we can meet the 51% of tourism function REQUIREMENT.
Use hotel tax funding for the City’s branding PLANS and incorporate a community input component.
Response provided by Trisha Patek, Budget Manager:
I think the title of the document should be DRAFT, not ADOPTED. But by the time we would change it, it will be adopted. Could cause some questions being in the packet this way. Noted, we will make sure the document is labeled as DRAFT moving forward.
There are no tracked changes in the document beginning on page 248. That's OK. I can work through it. The redline version was attached to the Legistar item, but it wasn’t included in the packet. It has been sent to the City Clerk to be included in an updated packet and attached to these responses.
Page 1 II Revenue.
"Develop a plan to regularly review fees. Impact fees will be revised based on master plan updates."
I thought we had a plan that basically split most fees into one of three groups with a group being reviewed each year. Are we following it? If we have a plan can we please insert it into this document? And the last FY that we reviewed fees for each group? (Wish I had thought of this years ago.) Yes, the City is selecting a group of fees to review on an annual basis. This year the Water-Wastewater fees were selected for review. There currently isn’t a written, formal plan, but is something we can work on developing.
How often have we been doing annual rate studies? We have been doing the rate studies for more than 3 years, each of them being done on an annual basis. Our long-term goal is to transition the rate studies to be done in house with a consultant doing a full rate model review every three years or so.
What is the cost? Electric & Water-Wastewater – Between $14,000 and $15,000.
Stormwater – We pay this consultant based on updates to the model. On average over the past three years, we have paid about $12,900 a year, but staff is looking at transitioning this to in house and having a consultant do a full rate model review every three years or so.
Resource Recovery – Rate model maintained in house.
III. EXPENDITURES
bullet 2
"If capacity allows, continue investment in staff by..." What defines "capacity allows?" After the services and programs already being provided to citizens are funded, staff will begin to incorporate the items as prioritized by City Council during Visioning and Budget Policy Workshop. The amount of funds remaining (capacity) will determine how many of the prioritized items can be included in the budget.
bullet 3
Health insurance will be evaluated and presented to Council during the budget process based on plan needs. Staff anticipates any additional
funding needed is included as part of the 3-5% increase in personnel costs stated above.
Since these are in the same paragraph, is the "additional funding" solely health insurance costs? No, it’s intended to be total personnel costs.
Where is the "3-5% increase in personnel costs stated above" - I don't see it. This was an oversight on our part. It has been included.
I. FUND BALANCE
Electric Utility Fund: Work towards [space] 90 days of recurring operating expenses. Updated.
Stormwater Utility Fund: Maintain [space] 90 days of recurring operating expenses. Updated.
III. EXPENDITURES, GENERAL FUND, bullet 5
"Continue funding City hosted events in the combined amount of $60,000 for all events (Veterans Day, Summer Fest Fireworks, and Arts
Commission Special Events)." What about other events such as Sights and Sounds? The criteria to be a signature event was approved and included in last year’s budget policy. It is not included in this year’s budget policy as this process has become operationalized and falls in line with the policy approved by Council.
III. EXPENDITURES, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND
Amendments coming: Add text in caps. These seem a bit short on clarity.
Allocate funding for historical restoration and preservation PROJECTS based on capacity and explore how we can meet the 51% of tourism function REQUIREMENT. Updated.
Use hotel tax funding for the City’s branding PLANS and incorporate a community input component. Updated.
I think the title of the document should be DRAFT, not ADOPTED. But by the time we would change it, it will be adopted. Could cause some questions being in the packet this way. Noted, we will make sure the document is labeled as DRAFT moving forward.
There are no tracked changes in the document beginning on page 248. That's OK. I can work through it. The redline version was attached to the Legistar item, but it wasn’t included in the packet. It has been sent to the City Clerk to be included in an updated packet and attached to these responses.
Page 1 II Revenue.
"Develop a plan to regularly review fees. Impact fees will be revised based on master plan updates."
I thought we had a plan that basically split most fees into one of three groups with a group being reviewed each year. Are we following it? If we have a plan can we please insert it into this document? And the last FY that we reviewed fees for each group? (Wish I had thought of this years ago.) Yes, the City is selecting a group of fees to review on an annual basis. This year the Water-Wastewater fees were selected for review. There currently isn’t a written, formal plan, but is something we can work on developing.
How often have we been doing annual rate studies? We have been doing the rate studies for more than 3 years, each of them being done on an annual basis. Our long-term goal is to transition the rate studies to be done in house with a consultant doing a full rate model review every three years or so.
What is the cost? Electric & Water-Wastewater – Between $14,000 and $15,000.
Stormwater – We pay this consultant based on updates to the model. On average over the past three years, we have paid about $12,900 a year, but staff is looking at transitioning this to in house and having a consultant do a full rate model review every three years or so.
Resource Recovery – Rate model maintained in house.
III. EXPENDITURES
bullet 2
"If capacity allows, continue investment in staff by..." What defines "capacity allows?" After the services and programs already being provided to citizens are funded, staff will begin to incorporate the items as prioritized by City Council during Visioning and Budget Policy Workshop. The amount of funds remaining (capacity) will determine how many of the prioritized items can be included in the budget.
bullet 3
Health insurance will be evaluated and presented to Council during the budget process based on plan needs. Staff anticipates any additional
funding needed is included as part of the 3-5% increase in personnel costs stated above.
Since these are in the same paragraph, is the "additional funding" solely health insurance costs? No, it’s intended to be total personnel costs.
Where is the "3-5% increase in personnel costs stated above" - I don't see it. This was an oversight on our part. It has been included.
I. FUND BALANCE
Electric Utility Fund: Work towards [space] 90 days of recurring operating expenses. Updated.
Stormwater Utility Fund: Maintain [space] 90 days of recurring operating expenses. Updated.
III. EXPENDITURES, GENERAL FUND, bullet 5
"Continue funding City hosted events in the combined amount of $60,000 for all events (Veterans Day, Summer Fest Fireworks, and Arts
Commission Special Events)." What about other events such as Sights and Sounds? The criteria to be a signature event was approved and included in last year’s budget policy. It is not included in this year’s budget policy as this process has become operationalized and falls in line with the policy approved by Council.
III. EXPENDITURES, HOTEL OCCUPANCY TAX FUND
Amendments coming: Add text in caps. These seem a bit short on clarity.
Allocate funding for historical restoration and preservation PROJECTS based on capacity and explore how we can meet the 51% of tourism function REQUIREMENT. Updated.
Use hotel tax funding for the City’s branding PLANS and incorporate a community input component. Updated.
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