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030734
| 0 | 1) | Budget | Communication from the Mayor transmitting the 2004 City Budget.
Minutes note: Also appeared: Joseph Czarnezki, Director (DOA-Budget), John Egan (Comptroller's Office), Marianne Walsh, Manager (Fiscal Review), Cassandra Patterson, Special Assistant to the Finance & Personnel Committee
Ald. Pratt appeared and addressed the committee. He had the first of the budget briefing meetings last night at Madison High School. They will also have meetings at Rufus King, Riverside and Bay View. Residents do not want a cut in services. 750 jobs cut in the last 10 to 12 years. This year the proposed budget eliminates 650 positions. 5.5% added to the rate comes to a million. Garbage collection is proposed to go from 7 days to 8 days. Special pickups will go from 10 to 14 days. The Committee makes the recommendations to the Common Council. This will be a tough budget. Members of the Common Council will have to follow this budget very closely.
BUDGET OVERVIEW
Joseph Czarnezki, Marianne Walsh appeared.
Mr. Czarnezki complimented his staff on their hard work putting together the budget.
There is a changing relationship between state and local governments. State Shared revenue was frozen from 1995 to 2001. 2003 - 2005 it was cut by $50,000,000. Expenditures are growing at a much faster rate than our revenues. Health Care costs continue to rise since 1996. They are anticipating a leveling off in 2004. Revenues are not projected to grow at the same rate as our expenses. The City has charted a course for 2004, must reduce the size of the staff. Maintain our city infrastructure. One of the keys to accomplish this is to freeze the property tax levy. This is the lowest tax rate since 1945. 643 temporary positions will be eliminated. Property tax rates have also declined. Since 1988 the City budget has grown less than the rate of inflation. It has been City vs. County since 1988. In 1988 the City was higher on their tax rate than the county. Now the City is lower than the county on their tax rate. 80% of our budget is personnel costs. The Public Debt Amortization fund for 2004 is $4 million, $1 million less than the 2003 withdrawal. No major fee increases, no increase in solid waste, water rate, ice removal. They will be implementing an on-line service system. There is a reorganization of the City Attorney's Office and the City Assessor's office. We have a new paramedic contract with Milwaukee County. This budget maintains core services and is fiscally responsible. The 2004 Budget will set the tone for years to come and will help to determine Milwaukee's future. The City will be calling back fewer seasonal workers in 2004 than it did in 2003.
MAYOR'S OFFICE
Jennifer Meyer, James Rowen, Eric Pearson and Emma Stamps. appeared.
The loss of the COMPASS Grant funding results in elimination of the full time COMPASS Project Policy Director in the 2004 proposed budget. Information needed for this project was not submitted from the Police Department.
Mayor Norquist will resign in early 2004. Between the date of his resignation and April 20, 2004, the position of Mayor will be vacant. Common Council President Marvin Pratt will assume the role of Acting Mayor, although his salary will continue to be paid from the Common Council City Clerk's budget based on what the City Attorney has told them.
The Proposed Budget lists 18 authorized positions, the same level authorized in 2003.
The Proposed Budget total for 2004 is $1,076,189, a decrease of approximately 10.47% from the budget of 2003. The positions were budgeted at step one of the pay range.
Mr. Rowen said it's been his experience over the past few years that the working relationship between the Council and the Mayor's Office has been a good experience. He thanked the staff for their personal assistance. There is a reduction of about 10% for salaries, as the administration will be changing.
Grant from the Social Development Commission (SDC). SDC took over management of NIDC.
74% of city neighborhoods have not changed or changed for better.
CITY CLERK
Ronald Leonhardt, Donna Johnson, Eric Pearson, and Angelyn Ward appeared.
The aldermanic Districts will be reduced from 17 to 15. The number of Legislative Assistant positions will also be reduced by two effective at the beginning of the 2004 budget. No capitol funding in the City Clerk's budget. Wireless computing in meeting rooms and will become available from a laptop thereby possibly eliminating the huge books committee members now receive. 7 vacant positions are eliminated for 2004.
They are working at web broadcasting of committee meetings and council meetings. Web based citizen complaint form is being worked on.
The number of authorized positions is 102 for 2004, a decrease of 12 positions.
In Operating Expenditures, the Budget provides $718,153, a decrease of $90,305
No funding for the handgun media account.
A new position was created in the 2003 budget called Legislative Fiscal Analyst (Salary Grade 7) to combine the functions of the Legislative Research Analyst senior and the Fiscal Review Analyst Senior (both salary Grade 6) into a single position. The 2004 proposed budget continues this staffing imitative by creating two more Legislative Fiscal Analyst positions and eliminating one Legislative Research Analyst Senior and two Fiscal Review Analyst Senior positions.
This proposed budget eliminates the two Community Services positions. The salary savings is $111,744.
The Deputy City Clerk position has been downgraded. They will be increasing use of the Internet and will be implementing bartender renewals and a daily listing of home improvement contractors. They have been working with LRB to cross train personnel. Mr. Leonhardt does not feel the workload has decreased to limit the staff to one office designer.
ELECTION COMMISSION
Victoria Robertson, Erick Shambarger, and Angelyn Ward appeared.
The 2003 Budget funded 2 elections. Due to recall and special elections, the City has participated in 6 additional elections, with two pending state recall elections.
Citywide redistricting reduced the number of aldermanic districts from 17 to 15. The Election Commission will revise the number and location of polling locations according to the new aldermanic district boundaries.
The Proposed Budget provides funding for 4 elections for a total of 110 positions, an increase of 38 positions.
In Operating Expenditures, the Proposed Budget provides $984,113, an increase of $447,473, 94.2% from the 2003 Budget.
They have had 10 elections this year. Created detailed hands on training for registering of voters. Will have a Get Out to Vote campaign. They have increased participation of City employees in helping out at the polls. They are asking for one reclassification. They have had two this year. In February, there will be a huge election. In 2004 they will ask for additional supervisors. Average age of a poll worker is 72. Their goal is to register people to vote before the elections. They have 1,600 poll workers. Help America Vote Act is a federal act. By law we are required to have one voter registration by 2006. All the money is being funneled through the state. The state requires the City to have a certain number of pollworkers at each location. The state has an open registration. When someone registers on site they need to show some form of identification. It can be a driver's license, recent utility bill dated within 90 days, ID card. Driver's license, etc. When people register to vote they have to take an oath.
CITY ATTORNEY
Grant F. Langley, Barbara Woldt, Sandy Rotar and Mark Ramion appeared.
The Proposed budget for this office is $6,301,050 a decrease of 2% from the 2003 budget.
The reorganization in 2003 consolidates legal services in three sections led by one of three Deputy City Attorney's.
Support staff is reorganized by the creation of one position of Administrative Specialist Senior and the elimination of three positions: Legal Office Assistant IV, Legal Office Assistant II and Office Assistant II.
The Kohn Law Firm is contracted to collect delinquent property taxes and accounts receivable. Through August 2003, they collected $1.8 million in personam delinquencies with a projected amount of $3.8 for 2003. They will continue to use Parking Citation Review Manager position.
Funds contained in Special Purpose Accounts under the authority of the City Attorney have increased by 4% from the 2003 budget. Under the auspices of the Collection Contract SPA, over $4 million has been collected, to date, in 2003. The Tax Intercept Program has collected approximately $2 million, through August, 2003, in overdue municipal forfeitures. The Comptroller's Office estimates a 2004 increase of 15% in revenue.
They are renovating the offices for support staff and some of the attorney offices. They have had a significant change since David Halbrooks was elected to Municipal Court.
Ald. Murphy asked if there could be a legal education to the new police chief. He suggested they make an offer to the new chief. Mr. Langley replied he has an excellent working relationship with the current chief. He feels they can do a better job in the area of discipline. He plans to develop a good working relationship with the new chief. He asked who will be filling the position. Mr. Langley stated G. O'Sullivan Crowley will be filling that position. Receivership is a primary weapon in dealing with problem properties. Ald. D'Amato stated they have a reduction in the number of attorneys in the office and wonders if they could be put to use in revenue producing positions. Mr. Langley stated he is very pleased with the skill and expertise of his legal staff.
Tax intercept program is done through contract and will be up for renewal (5 year contract). Two contractors Professional Placement Services and Kohn law firm hold the contracts at this time. ERS has the authority to re-evaluate disabled City employees receiving a disability on a yearly basis.
ASSESSOR
Mary Reavey, Dennis Yaccarino, Jim Owczarski, John Constant and Patty Yunk appeared.
The Assessor's proposed budget decreases to $2,724,779. The number of positions decreases from 65 in 2002 to 56. 2 positions would be laid off, as all the others are vacant. The Proposed Budget allocates $75,000 for a “State Manufacturing Assessment Payment”. The State of Wisconsin is responsible for the assessment of the real and personal property of manufacturing properties. In 2004, the state will be charging local communities for this service. The Proposed Budget provides $500,000 for the Remission of Taxes Fund SPA. 2,487 appeals were filed with the Assessors Office. It is anticipated that this department will bring in $2,000 in revenues for charges for services. There was a substantial reduction in appeals for 2003. They are attempting to do their personal property different. They will seek law changes especially in the personal property level. They are not making any substantial changes to the “model”. Smaller communities hire out for their assessing services. They looked at doing the assessing for these communities. They couldn't just absorb the work with the staff they have now. The majority of municipalities have their own staff. They cannot just trade services, as there would be union issues. Once every 4 years the municipality must be within 10% of market value. The average processing cost for an exempt property is $100. By State law you must file by March 1 for an exemption. Hits on the internet site are 1.5 million. Some cities are assessing a larger portion of the amount that is assessed for land. Ald. D'Amato feels Detroit and Cincinnati are already doing this.
Patty Yunk appeared for District Council 48.
John Constant, President of the Local 40, appeared. He pleaded that there be no administrative staff lay offs for the department (2 clerical). If annual assessments are required it means 5 positions of assessor should be filled in a timely manner instead of eliminating these positions. (See attached Exhibit A). Ald. D'Amato asked Mr. Constant if he was familiar with how other municipalities assess. He stated very few are unionized as they have 1 or 2 in house assessors.
Ms. Reavey stated they have 30 appraisers. An appraisal is a type of science. Most if not all of the appraisers are being trained and are moving up the pay scale. She will always maintain a quality assessment program.
DEPT. OF ADMINISTRATION (all division, incl. CDBG)
Michael Soika, Katie O'Sullivan, Rhonda Kelsey, Cheryl Oliva, Randy Gschwind, Steve Mahan (CDBG) and Jim Owczarski appeared.
The 2004 Proposed Budget decreased by 14% to $7,340,588. Position authority decreases 9% and direct labor hours drop 11%. This department will be undergoing a significant reorganization in 2004. The basic premise is the elimination of 3 divisions, Administration, Budget and Management and Intergovernmental Relations and the creation of 2 new divisions, Budget and Policy and Community Development Block Grant Administration. It is anticipated that this reorganization will result in a savings of approximately $235,000 and elimination of 4 positions. It reduces the salary grade of the division head of ITMD and IRD from 17 to 15 and creates the position of Budget and Policy Director at 15. The Proposed Budget projects that the City will retain its 2003 Aa2/AA+ bond rating. The Proposed Budget for Printing and Records will reduce some of its printing operations due to reduced demand for this service. The City's in-house high speed and color copy service, as well as some of its offset print operation, will be eliminated in 2004. Position authority for 2 full-time and 2 part-time staff members will be eliminated and the remaining employees will be reorganized in a Document Services section. The department indicated it would use master contracts to purchase and regulate the remaining printing needs of the City departments. The Community Block Grant Administration will administer grant funds of approximately $28.2 million. This is a loss of $1.2 million in CDBG entitlement funds and $2 million in HOME funds. The Proposed Budget includes funding for 1 new position of Rental Rehab Specialist (SG 4) to perform regulatory functions required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The position is funded through the City's CDBG and HOME allocations. The Proposed Budget recommends the elimination of the 6-section structure of ITMD and its replacement with a new 3-section structure. This change will result in the elimination of 2 vacant positions and the transfer of a person and function to the Comptroller's Office. It allocates $630,000 in capital spending for an upgrade of the People Soft Financials module to Version 8. This upgrade helps insure that the City remains eligible for full People Soft support for all of its resource management system.
Mr. Soika stated way back in March, when they began looking at this budget they realized this would be their last budget and they would streamline. Ms. Kelsey (EBEP) stated that in 2002 they had 88 certifications and today they have 56 certifications.
Pat Curley stated one of the positions being eliminated is vacant. He feels there is going to be a serious look in the state administration on what is happening in local government.
Mr. Soika does not feel the City Attorney would go for merging our program with the county. The City's program has never been challenged and the county's program has. If they combined the EBEP, despite the City Attorney's objection what would be the benefits? They wouldn't have to pay the consultant to do the certifying ($40,000) in the budget. Capitol projects need to identify all the parties that will be involved and this plan should be in place for the aldermen by the end of this month. Cheryl Olivia reported that in City wide printing services the demand has gone down and the costs have risen significantly. The print shop would need new modern equipment if it were to stay in place. In other City's their printing costs have decreased 20% and they are open 24 hrs. a day, 7 days a week and they have free pickup and delivery. Ald. Hines stated he doesn't feel there has been a significant study, especially with the printing at the police department. Ms. Olivia stated they did a study of 20 other municipalities relative to sensitive documents. Companies that are awarded these contracts are required to be bonded. She stated they may want to look at what documents are being printed at the police department and whether they are really necessary. Ald. D'Amato asked if the Police printing shop were eliminated would the City's print shop be able to handle it. Ms. Olivia stated we are a reimbursable organization. She stated they would have to look at billing etc. The other personnel within MPR will be restructured to show what they do. People can now go right to their desktop to retrieve the documents they want. Departments are going to the online procedure and there is less calls for their printing services. The Library has one print position that is dedicated to running a printer.
People Soft is not utilized as fully as it could be. ITMD would be freed up to allow more time for training. | HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR | Pass | 5:0 |
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