| Middletown City Managers Weekly Update to Council May 17, 2009 |
| Thursday, May 21, 2009 9:22:51 AM - Middletown Ohio |
Flip This Town
TV Middletown produces a segment entitled Flip This Town. Please click on the link below to go to the most recent taping.
http://www.flipthistown.blip.tv
Upcoming Events
May 19 Small Business Development Workshop, 6:00 8:00 p.m., Chamber of Commerce
May 19 City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers
May 20 Broad Street Bash,, 5:30 9:30 p.m., Central & Broad (The Whammies will perform)
May 25 Memorial Day Holiday City Building closed
May 25 Memorial Day Parade, 10:00 a.m.
May 29 Butler County Legislative Breakfast, 7:30 a.m., The Knolls of Oxford, Main Building, 6727 Contreras Rd. Contact Oxford Chamber of Commerce at 513-523-5200. Council members, please let Betsy know if you plan on attending.
May 30 Main Street Art and Music Festival, 11:00 a.m. 11:00 p.m., Arts Central District, Central Ave.
June 1 Park Board meeting, 5:30 p.m., Conference Room 2C
June 2 City Council Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers
June 3 Airport Commission Meeting, 5:00 p.m., Conference Room 4A
June 3 Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Council Chambers
June 3 Broad Street Bash,, 5:30 9:30 p.m., Central & Broad (DixZ Highway will perform)
June 9 Board of Health Meeting, 7:30 a.m., Conference Room 2C
June 10 Planning Commission Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Council Chambers
Links for additional information:
City Managers Weekly Update: www.cityofmiddletown.org
Middletown Community Calendar: http://www.calendarwiz.com/middletowncalendar
Pothole Patrol: www.cityofmiddletown.org or call 727-3691 (Option 2)
Have a great week! Judy
Budget Discussion Points from Senior Staff
Pay Reduction 1%
for non-organized, general fund employees results in a savings of approx $52,000 for a full year.
for all employees (Union and unorganized) results in a savings of approx. $240,000.
Furlough 4 hour per month (48 hours of no work and no pay 2.3% annual decrease)
for non-organized, general fund employees results in a savings of approx. $119,600/year
for all employees results in savings of approx. $552,000/year but this does not take into account OT to cover essential shifts, 24/7/365 operations. Also, certain legal issues with furloughs and salaried employees.
IF there is a pay reduction/furlough for employees it must affect all employees, union-non-union, all funds, not just general fund. Employee pay is already below area, reductions would place us farther behind in addition to the affect on employee morale. Pay reductions and furloughs affect those within 3 years of retirement more than those who are not.
Do we examine the budgetary issue as a long term issue that will need permanent adjustment or as a short term 1 5 year issue? Do we continue to limp along and get by each year or do we make significant changes. Staff consensus: make significant changes, everyone is weary of working under threat and having the same conversation year after year after decade
.
Do we cut into reserves for 2009? We are above 25% level in reserves; 15-25% is recommended level by financial institutions. Staff recommendation: make the 2% cut this year; take the rest out of the reserves if needed.
Obviously, we need to examine ways in which revenues can be increased while we decrease expenditures.
We should recognize demographically what is occurring in the community: decrease of upper income levels and increase of lower income levels. Make efforts to retain balance of income levels.
Police have lost 20 employees since 2000.
Do we make cuts straight across-the-board or do we make strategic cuts. Recognize that strategic cuts allow for politics to enter into the decision making process. Staff recommendation: Each department to come up with a list of 5% cuts, 10% cuts and 15% cuts to their budget, knowing that there will also be some strategic cuts.
Try to create a balanced budget for the next three years.
Need to acknowledge the commitments made to the public regarding the Public Safety levy not to reduce fire and police personnel; does this include clerical? If income tax revenues are down then the public safety levy income tax revenues are down proportionally also.
In order to make cuts, do we go back to base year 2000, prior to police reductions being made. Note: regardless of the base year, there are going to be inequities because various cuts have been made every year in various departments; there is no equitable baseline year.
The farther back in baseline year, the more difficult it is to reconstruct the budgets; departments and personnel have shifted.
Make sure we are charging back all programs appropriately: NSP, Section 8, CDBG, etc.
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