09-03-13 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Search

WS –Item#9 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item No.9 Date: September 3, 2013 To: City Council From: Jeff Karlson Re: 2014 Budget --Schools, Conferences, and TravelExpenditures Background During the August 12 budget work session, Mayor Reinertdirected staff to review budget expenditures for schools, conferences,and traveland report back to the Council how much is being spent on training and conferences and the value of these expenditures. The 2013 department budgetstotal $38,300for conferences, seminars, training, and travel. Following is a breakdown of the 2013 and 2014 training budgets by department: Department20132014 (Revised)Difference Administration$ 5,500$ 4,500($1,000) Finance$ 5,000$ 4,000($1,000) Community Development$ 6,400$ 6,300($ 100) Police$15,000$13,000($2,000) Public Services$ 6,400$ 5,900($ 500) Total $38,300$34,700($4,600) The preliminary budget that was presented to the council included reductions totaling $3,600. After examining each department’s expenditures, I amproposing additional reductionsof $1,000. The exposure of cities to lawsuits is one reason for educational and training programs. Cities deliver a wide range of public services and engage in many regulatory practices to protect public health and safety, and are often parties to court actions because of our litigious society. Cities are exposed to greater liability if supervisors and employees are not property trained. Tuition and travel expenditures include training that is required for staff to maintain their licenses, credentials,and certifications. Other expenditures are for learning new skills or to keep up-to-date with new rulesand regulations.For example, training expenditures for streets maintenance staff in 2012 was $2,939. The only training not required was a defensive driving course for snow plows, which greatly benefitted staff. Public works employees have recently attended educational courses, seminars, workshops,and training