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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-05-22 Budget Committee MinutesBudget Committee Meeting May 22, 2019 Page 1 of 5 DRAFT BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES May 22, 2019 Council Chambers 1175 E. Main Street Budget Committee Chair Paula Hyatt called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. in the Civic Center Council Chambers. ROLL CALL Present: Julie Akins Jim Bachman Paula Hyatt Tonya Graham Shaun Moran Mike Morris Pamela Lucas Absent: Stephen Jensen DECLRIATION OF CONFLICT Bachman -Wife Boards Graham- Sister Works for the City David Runkel Stefani Seffinger Dennis Slattery John Stromberg Rich Rosenthal Shane Hunter PUBLIC FORUM Phil Collins -Ashland -Member of the CERT team, concerned about the fire chief resigning due to budget issues. He spoke to why fire should be funded, speaking to the oak knoll fire, and the need for staffing. He spoke to needing a fire chief, and that it is not suitable. He also spoke to Teri Eubanks, has grown by a factor of 10 and that her job goes beyond that of CERT. Ken Wilson -Ashland -He spoke to how another speaker stated that the budgets were out of the control. He added that the City has to many employees. He sighted the water was once worked on with Medford and that mainline of the facility was great. AFN that still has debt, a Golf Course that costs, and that a fire department that could be outsourced. He also asked why funds are being spent for City Hall. He also talked about those with large salaries. Doing Member in salary management. Rich Rohde -Ashland -Speaking in favor to keep funds in the housing trust fund. He added that support has been given. He reiterates the support that has come from this. One of points to this is the leverage of 10 times more for funds. He also spoke to the way it has business has been done with how affordable housing is done. As an example of this would be to be a leading city in affordable housing. Hulez Gutchen-Ashalnd- Spoke to the service that is given. He spoke to balancing budget and the problems that keep getting worse. Is climate change real and what we can do about it. He added that no one knows what to do about it. We have to redo codes. Mistakes have to be made and how much would it cost to budget this, stayed and passed a budget that reduced carbons. Budget Committee Meeting May 22, 2019 Page 2 of 5 STAFF REPORT Mark Welch, Admin. Service Director touched on the agenda. Motion was discussed. Rosnethonal asked to rescind the motion. Kelly spoke to the committee on the cuts as proposed. She explained the additional potential a actions. She also spoke to ECTS grants, being only funded for just the 2019-2020. She also explained that there is recommended Fire Department Administration. She also spoke to what it takes to be acting chief. The money will be reduced, and over the next year it will be evaluated. Retracement, as spoken. A reeducation of materials and services. Police Department jail Bed Reduction. The reduction of community development not recommended. She stated that there would be a raise in the property tax levy, with an increase of $1.12 a month. This is highly uncommon that they have not exerted there full authority, and that the budget lends itself that need to. AFN Franchise Fees and that this an appropriate amount. This would leave $30, 281. Mayor Stromberg, spoke to the ECTS Grants and how it would factor in over the two-year biennium. This leaves the option to allocate funds for the. 75% Calculated over two years. Single years view. Akins asked about the analyzing of the live enternment ticket tax. Frame work was set up as a percentage. Jail bed contribution reeducation. Welch stated that he had spoken to the Chief. But that this a converted estimate Rosenthal spoke about the AFN fee and what fund that this would come of. Welch responded that this would come out of gross revenue. He asked if projected revenue, would still keep them positive. But currently they do have the money to pay for it. Franchised fee on open debt on service is possible. Moran asked about AFN the tax that is paied and that if this would be double tax. It is not dedicated to a funding source. Akins asked about the 5% would be felt by customers, and they have to be price completive. Bachman asked about the Food and Beverage Tax Increase. Roll Call Vote #1-Slattery/Hunter "A motion to approve the City of Ashland 2019-21 biennial budget as revised in attachment A and recommend the budget to the City Council for adoption, approve the property tax levy in the amount of $4.2865 per $1,000 of assessed value for fiscal year 2019-20 and fiscal year 2020-21 respectively, approve property taxes for the payment of general obligation principal and interest bonded debt in the total of $512,987 for fiscal year 2019-20, and $219,173 for fiscal year 2020-21. Slattery spoke to the work that has been done. Things like the ambulance services need to be looked and that we need to be prepared. And that the budget does this. Hunter added that he knows that was difficult and that 60% was used by making up expenditures. Runkel stated that he thinks this is premature. Roll Call Vote #2-Runkel Motion withdrawn. He added that he would fully support. He added that other department Budget Committee Meeting May 22, 2019 Page 3 of 5 Roll Call Vote #3-Runkel/Moran "A motion to amend the pervious motion and change the reduction of funds from $50,00 to $125,000 in administration" Motion Failed Kelly spoke to the positions already cut, if Welch's position is cut it is funded by all the funds. When you cut in central services. In terms of retracement it does not translate into the general fund. And it is not dollar for dollar. As presented these are dollar of dollar reduction. Seffinger spoke to the value added services. The funding cannot come with these commission there is about 1.5 persons or reduced to a basic level. Hyatt spoke to the M/S budget is not dollar to dollar. She added that looking a materials and services, even though looking at trainings, this fund is low. If you look at the addional cuts. In essence have reduced service. This was not included as recommendation. Slattery asked spoke to the budget to the rank and file. He added the City is Adminiratior heavy. He does not support the motion. Akins spoke to the Ticket Tax. Seffinger asked to Hyatt asked about the M/S of $100,000 deferred maintince, and what this would look like. Slattery added that firefighter's life's would not be put at risk. Shepard spoke to look at $100,000 in cuts to look at it line by line. Small tools, station supplies, this. SCBA will not be bought, that the life span. Other examples replacing with new radio using old. Technical equipment, working on it until they can't and it won't be firefighters in jeopardy. Graham asked if the equipment fund would only be a part of the replacement fund. And that it is not healthy. The fund is not where it needs to be. Stromberg added that from his standpoint he will support the motion as it can go. It can also be found for the publics commentary. Mike Morris stated that he would support the motion that in the future benefits need to be exiled. Rosenthal added that he was conflicted about the motion but that this is philosophical difference and that it weakness. He understands people have different options, he added that there needs to be conversations need to happen. Courage and leadership need to happen to make. Graham agreed Roll Call Vote #4-Graham/ Slattery "A motion to amended the previous motion and recommend an addition of $115,000 to Fire as supported with corresponding fees". Motion Failed Akins added that Runkel added that he would like to see this outsourced. Hyatt added a note about insurance ratings. Hyatt added that she see a lot departments digging deep. She added that this. Budget Committee Meeting May 22, 2019 Page 4 of 5 Roll Call Vote #5 Call for Question-Stromberg/ Motion passed. Seffinger added that she would support property tax or a public safety support fee. People do not want to. Bachman added that this a strategic process. Lucas added that there is still a lot of work to do. Hyatt added that there is more work that needs to be done. She added that Slattery added he would like to see the committee together. Rosenthal added that he had two points and that. Suggestions Roll Call Vote #6 Rosenthal/Graham- A motion to recommended to City Council that an Ad Hoc Committee be formed to look at revenue sources and potential funding streams to preserve the integrity of City services. Madding added that it was hard to make these desions, the motion to acknowledged to look at expense. Slattery added that he would like to thank Slattery. BUDGET POSSIBLE MOTIONS Tabled from 5/15/19 "A motion to add back two polices officers in the proposed budget and to increase the public safety support fee." Budget as revised per Budget Committee Recommended Actions (attachment A): Motion to Approve the 2019-21 Biennial Budget & Levy Tax Budget as revised per Kelly's recommended actions (attachment B) without increase to property tax: Motion to Approve the 2019-21 Biennial Budget & Levy Tax Budget Committee Meeting May 22, 2019 Page 5 of 5 "1 move to approve the City of Ashland 2019-21 biennial budget as revised in attachment 8 and recommend the budget to the City Council for adoption, approve the property tax levy in the amount of $4.2422 per $1,000 of assessed value for fiscal year 2019-20 and fiscal year 2020-21 respectively, approve property taxes for the payment of general obligation principal and interest bonded debt in the total of $512,987 for fiscal year 2019-20, and $219,173 for fiscal year 2020-21. ADJOURNMENT M/S Meeting adjourned at 0:00 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Natalie Thomason Administrative Assistant