Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE



Meeting

May 13, 2003



Members Present: Chairperson Evelyn Turner Pugh, Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers,

Councilors R. Gary Allen, Wayne Anthony, Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson (arrived

at 11:08 a.m.) Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles E. McDaniel, Jr., Nathan Suber and

Evelyn Woodson. Also present were City Manager Cavezza, City Attorney Clifton

Fay, Finance Director Kay Love, and Assistant Finance Director Angela Cole.



Members Absent: No one was absent.

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Chairperson Turner Pugh called the meeting to order at 10:45 a.m. in the Ground

Floor Conference Room, Government Center.



City Manager Cavezza addressed concerns regarding the appearance of Department

Heads before the Budget Review Committee. He pointed out that we have heard a

lot of concerns from the Public Safety and the retirees, but neither are in

attendance at this meeting.



Capital Outlay:



City Manager Cavezza explained that the total Capital Outlay is $3,220,604 and

are outlined as follows:



o General Fund $0

o Sewer Fund $193,600

o Paving Fund $180,100

o Integrated Waste Fund $1,208,500

o Emergency Telephone (E-911) $377,649

o Transportation Fund $786,119

o Trade Center $353,136

o Bull Creek Golf Course $12,500

o Oxbow Creek Golf Course $10,000

o Civic Center $99,000



Total Capital Outlay - $3,220,604





Capital Supported Contingency:



The following items will be funded from General Fund Supported CIP

Contingency:



o Exhaust System for 5 Fire Stations (Fire Department) - $200,000.

o Zero Radius Mowers (Parks & Recreation) - $19,500.

o Heavy Duty Washer & Dryer (Jail) - $50,400.

o Bobcat 873 (Parks & Recreation) - $27,500.

o Glock 45 cal. Weapons (Sheriff) - $30,000.

o Smith & Wesson 45 cal. Weapons (Police) - $3,612.

o Forensic Evidence Drying Cabinet (Police) - $15,285.

o Kamatsu Rubber Tire Attachment (Parks & Recreation) - $22,000.

o Myraid Printer ? Print Shop ? $12,000.

o Duplo Book Maker ? Print Shop - $15,000.

o Quint Station #12 (Projects Initiated in FY03) - $630,000.

o Roof Renovations @ Pop Austin (Projects initiated in FY03) - $145,000.



There was some discussion regarding the Glock weapons that are used by the

Sheriff?s Department and the Smith & Wesson weapons that are used by the Police

Department with City Manager Cavezza responding to various questions from the

committee members.



Councilor Woodson asked about the street sweepers, at which time, City

Manager Cavezza said that we have four street sweepers; some were requested for

this year but were not funded.



Capital Improvement Program (CIP):



- General Fund Supported $990,000.

- Sewer Fund Supported $552,083.

- Paving Fund Supported $800,000.

- Integrated Waste Fund Supported $1,762,132.



Total - $4,105,087



1999 SPLOST Allocation - $19,998,582.



Councilor Suber asked questions regarding the request for the Go-4

Scooters, at which time, Chairperson Turner Pugh asked that Deputy City Manager

Hugley check with the Police Department to see which areas are covered to

justify the need for Go-4 Scooters.





CDBG Budget:



In response to a question of Councilor McDaniel, City Manager Cavezza

reminded everyone that under the Home Program, the Council agreed that we were

not going to do any home rental loans this year and it was going to be a loan

versus a grant in the future. He said that the plan is in place and was

approved; therefore, we cannot change anything this year, but we could revisit

it for next year.



Agency Appropriations:



o Health Department Services - $813,475 (FY03), $813,475 (FY04)

o Health Department Rent - $261,941 (FY03), $261,941 (FY04)

o Department of Family & Children Services - $100,000 (FY03), $100,000 (FY04)

o Airport Commission - $40,000 (FY03), $40,000 (FY04)

o Lower Chattahoochee RDC - $46,573 (FY03), $100,000 (FY04)

o Lower Chattahoochee RDC/Senior Meals - $20,000 (FY03), $20,000 (FY04)

o Keep Columbus Beautiful - $83,727 (FY03), $81,215 (FY04)

o Senior Referral Service - $23,644 (FY03), $23,644 (FY04)

o New Horizons Community Service Board - $265,787 (FY03), $260,914 (FY04)

o Lower Chattahoochee Direct Service Corp - $27,810 (FY03), $27,810 (FY04)

o Uptown Columbus - $100,000 (FY03), $10,000 (FY04)

o Rape Crisis Center - $5,000 (FY03), $5,000 (FY04)

o Literacy Alliance - $20,000 (FY03), $20,000 (FY04)

o Area Agency on Aging - $39,469 (FY03), $0 (FY04)



City Manager Cavezza explained that we have rolled the Area Agency on

Aging into the one sum listed for Lower Chattahoochee RDC.



Non-Operating Funds:



City Manager Cavezza, referring to a handout that was provided to the

committee members, briefly highlighted some areas in the non-operating funds

and are listed as follows: (A complete listing of non-operating funds have

been filed with the minutes for the record.)



- Multi Government - $2.771.729

- Columbus Green Space Trust Fund - $100,000.

- Hotel/Motel - $2.275.859

- Police Forfeiture - $117,399

- County Drug Abuse Treatment - $252,761

- Metro Drug Force - $347,902



City Manager Cavezza reviewed the FY04 Proposed Fee Listing with the

committee members and provided a brief explanation of the following:



Councilor Suber recalled that we had discontinued charging for the use of

exercise equipment; once, it was discovered that the equipment was not being

utilized. He said that the Parks & Recreation Department was to provide a

recommendation in this regard. Parks & Recreation Director Tony Adams

responded by saying that we are not proposing to charge for the use of the

equipment or increase fees other than for out-of-county residents.



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NOTE: Councilor Anthony left the meeting during this part of the proceedings

with the time being 11:38 a.m.

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In response to a question of Councilor Henderson regarding the senior

citizen discount rate at Bull Creek Golf Course, Financial Planning Division

Manager Joe Riddle replied that at Bull Creek, 62 years of age is the senior

rate. City Manager Cavezza added that we are going to the age of 55 as the

senior discount rate citywide. Chairperson Turner Pugh said the budget

committee needs to make a decision as to whether we want the senior rate to be

at 55 years of age versus 62, because we need to be consistent. Chairperson

Turner Pugh called for the vote with the age of 55 receiving two (2) votes; age

of 60 receiving two (2) votes; and the age of 62 receiving four (4) votes.

City Manager Cavezza suggested that the staff be allowed to come back with a

recommendation to the committee, because there is some data that the committee

probably should look at before a decision is made.

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NOTE: The committee took a lunch break at this point with the time being 11:57

a.m. This meeting reconvened at 12:20 p.m.

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City Manager Cavezza continued with his overview of the proposed budget.



- Employee/Retiree Benefits:



? 2% pay raise for employees on anniversary date

? 1% pay increase for retirees - $104,452



Councilor McDaniel requested that City Manager Cavezza look into the cost

for providing a 3% pay increase for City employees. City Manager Cavezza

cautioned this would have a big impact on next year?s budget and put the City

under a tremendous amount of pressure. Finance Director Love estimated that it

would be approximately $400,000 to $500,000. for the additional 1% increase.



There was continued discussion on this matter with various committee

members expressing their views. When there was talk of a bonus in lieu of a

pay increase, Mayor Poydasheff said that we would have a problem if we did

that. He said that most employees understood and accepted the fact they would

be receiving a bonus, but he believes that we would be breaking faith if we

gave the employees a bonus again this year.



Councilor Henderson spoke about the Pay-For-Performance. He said that it

is time to revisit that issue. City Manager Cavezza said that if the Council

votes to look into the Pay-For-Performance; then, he would do it, but there

needs to be a commitment on everyone?s part to do it.



City Manager Cavezza reminded everyone that the State employees and

teachers are not receiving a raise this year. He pointed out that we wanted to

give City employees a 3% raise, but discovered this would be too rich for the

budget. He explained this is the reason we are proposing the 2% increase.



- Employee/Retiree Benefits (continued):



? Veteran?s Day added to Holiday Schedule

? $5 per pay period increase for Health Insurance per employee and retirees

(monthly) to begin January 2004

? $2 per pay period increase for Health Insurance for dependent and family

coverage to begin January 2004

? Generic drug cost - $20.00, Brand Name drug - $30.00, Top of the Line drug -

$50.00



- OLD BUSINESS:



At this time, City Manager Cavezza responded to questions from the

previous meeting and are listed as follows:



? The staff is still in the process of compiling information regarding the

number of unfilled positions in general government. There is the

implementation of the hiring freeze effective July 1, 2003.



? The administration is working to reduce the number of state inmates in the

jail





City Manager Cavezza provided a survey of the garbage fee in several

cities and counties in Georgia and are listed as follows:



? Albany, Georgia - $17.75 per month for once a week pick-up, yard waste once a

week and bulk waste twice a week curbside recycling



? Athens-Clark County - It varies from $13.00 to $43.00 depending on the

volume, garbage once a week pick-up, yard waste once every five weeks and bulky

waste pay per pick-up and curbside recycling



? Macon, Georgia - $5.00 per month for once a week pick-up, yard waste once a

week and bulky waste once a week curbside recycling



? Marietta, Georgia - $18.00 to $24.00 per month for twice a week garbage

pick-up, yard waste once a week and bulky waste and recycling contracted out



? Savannah, Georgia - $21.00 per month for once a week pick-up, yard waste once

a week and bulky waste once a month at $7.00 per pick-up and no recycling



? Valdosta, Georgia - $15.50 per month for once a week pick-up, yard waste once

a week



? Pauper Burials:



? 19 pauper burials in 2003, 45 in 2002, 55 in 2001, 1 in 2000 and 63 in 1999.

Total of 183 pauper burials



In conclusion, City Manager Cavezza went over the Budget Review Schedule

with the committee members. He stated that we would be discussing personnel

and next week should be the last session where we should be wrapping up. He

advised that he has asked the Chamber of Commerce and Development Authority to

provide an overview of their programs for the committee.



He pointed out that in this budget, there is a .25 mill for economic

development outside of where it was last year. He said there also is .25 for

paving and we are asking the budget committee to consider going to .50 mill,

which is not in the budget for paving. He stated there is also .4 mill

increase on debt service; we knew that was coming, and next year that would

drop down.



Trade Center:



Councilor Suber asked about the $22 million that is needed for the Trade

Center, at which time, City Manager Cavezza said that Mayor Poydasheff is

working on getting an appointment with the State Legislators to make our case

and there is some support in the private sector.



There being no other business to discuss, this meeting adjourned at 1:08 p.m.







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Sandra T. Davis

Deputy Clerk of Council

Council of Columbus, Georgia