09-11-2013 Council Workshop Minutes

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER 11, 2013 Department. Morelan agreed that a workshop should be scheduled. He also noted that the increase in the Fire Department budget from 2013 to 2014 is about $45,000, $42,000 of which involves the duty crew and pension increase requests. Blesener asked about the Fire Department contingency dollars. Morelan noted that this are part of the City's Capital Improvement Budget. Those dollars are included in the event of an unforeseen expense relative to equipment maintenance and /or repairs. Morelan noted that today is September 11th, and the 12°' anniversary of the terrorists attacks. Morelan reported that on each September 11`x' anniversary, the Little Canada Fire Department holds a remembrance ceremony and moment of silence at 8:59 a.m., the time that the first tower was attacked. Morelan noted the 343 New York City fire fighters and many other people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. At this point in the meeting, the City Administrator continued his review of the City's Preliminary 2014 Budget. The Administrator reported that there is a 3.94% increase projected in General Fund Revenues. The Administrator highlighted that the significant changes occur in Intergovernmental with a 14.84% increase projected due to increased LGA dollars into the General Fund. Miscellaneous is projected to increase 16.67% primarily due to increased interest earnings given the Interfund Loans that the City has undertaken. He also noted under Transfers In the dollars from the Water & Sewer Capital Replacement Fund for debt service on the Public Works Garage project. The Administrator then reviewed General Fund Expenses noting a projected increase of 3.9 %. He noted the increases in the Elections portion of this budget, pointing out that the City holds elections in the even - numbered years. The Public Safety portion of this budget is projected to increase by 4.7% with the Sheriff's Department budget up 3.4 %. Blesener asked about the expense for City Center remodeling. The Administrator indicated that that expense would be paid for from the General Capital Improvement Fund as well as the Cable TV Fund. The Council discussed the Sheriff's Department Budget, with the Administrator indicating that the increase is substantially due to the County passing a portion of the cost of post - employment benefits to the contracting cities. He noted that the contracting cities' share of this cost is being phased - in. Another cost increase is due to staffing the Crime Prevention Unit with a full -time clerical person versus the previous part -time position. 5