6.0. SR 11-10-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Budget Staff Report November 10, 2003 Page 3 of 6 Expenditure Notes There is nothing very unusual in the 2004 expenditures as proposed. The department heads did an excellent job in keeping expenses down and submitting a "bare bones" type of budget as they knew that revenues were very limited based on the LGA cuts we are experiencing. Please see the attached capital outlay page for information on the planned equipment and vehicle purchases and how they are proposed to be financed. Additional comments on 2004 expenditures include the following: · Retains the volunteer appreciation program · Retains the city newsletter (six editions per year) · Retains the goose trapping program · Restores some national conferences for employees · Includes $3,000 for HPC projects (requested $5,000) and $1,500 for HPC travel and conferences (requested $3,000) · Adds the RequestPartners program · Includes $10,000 for the arts (this is an increase from past years) · Includes increased planning and recreation fees to help cover actual expenses (as approved in mid-year in 2003) · Reduces the contractual services for snowplowing · Eliminates the summer park ranger program · Eliminates the ice rink attendant program · Reduces the overlay/sealcoatmg program (as compared to the original 2003 budget) · Eliminates the employee recognition droner · Limits the part time summer help for park maintenance · For the second year in a row, does not include a tree planting program (however the Utilities have a program) · No funds provided for the fish stocking program · No funds for the Chamber dues (the EDA is a member) One additional item to note is that there are adequate funds in the budget under contractual services for the cleaning of City Hall and the Public Safety facility (mainly the police station). These services are being evaluated and it may very well be the recommendation that these contracts end in the near future and we proceed with the hiring of part time employees for cleaning. These employees would be under the supervision of the building maintenance employee, Gary Lore. 2004 BUDGET GAP There are not too many small budget amendments to consider in looking at closing the projected 2004 budget gap. Most of the adjustments to consider are larger in scale. One of the most important issues for the Council to consider is how to use the additional Host Fee money and whether or not all of this money should be designated for capital projects or whether or not some of these monies should be used in the short term to balance the annual operating budgets. The projection is that approximately $290,000 will be available from the Host Fee in 2004. S: ~Council~Pat~Budgct~ 1103balancing.doc