Columbus, Georgia

Minutes



COUNCIL BRIEFING



Meeting

February 8, 2005



Members Present: Councilors R. Gary Allen, Wayne Anthony (arrived 8:40 a.m.),

Glenn Davis, Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles E. McDaniel, Jr.,

Evelyn Turner Pugh, Nathan Suber and Evelyn Woodson (arrived 8:38 a.m.). Also

present were Mayor Robert S. Poydasheff, City Manager Isaiah Hugley, City

Attorney Clifton Fay, Deputy City Manager Richard Bishop, Finance Director

Angela Cole, Clerk of Council Tiny B. Washington and Deputy Clerk of Council

Sandra Davis.



Members Absent: Mayor Pro Tem John J. Rodgers was absent.



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This meeting was called to order at 8:36 a.m., in the Council Chambers

Conference Room, Plaza Level of the Government Center.





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Mid-Year Adjustment:

City Manager Hugley briefly outlined the information in the mid-year budget

adjustments and offered to respond to any questions.



? Approved budget of $180.5 million ? October modification for carry-overs.

? General Fund Budget - $122,640,204.00; the General Fund Budget would increase

by $673,263.00, which takes the budget to $123, 313,467.

? Incoming revenue of $586,000.

? Project $8.1 million in insurance premium funds from the State of Georgia for

FY-05

? The premium fund came in at $8.6 million; there is $509,959.00 more than

anticipated from the premium fund.

? Grant from the Health Department for Homeland Security for $74,653.00 and a

grant from Walmart of $1,500.00 for smoke detectors

? Amount added is $673,263.00 to the General Fund; revenues of $586,112 to

offset what was added, which leaves a net difference of $87,151.00 that would

come from the fund balance.





In response to a question of Councilor Davis, City Manager Hugley reported

that we projected 2.75% growth and we came in at 3.04%



Medical Center Fund



? $10,361,040.00 would increase by $262,937.00, with the total being

$10,623,977.00 because of the growth



In response to a question from Councilor McDaniel, Finance Director Angela

Cole advised that we provide the Medical Center with nine installments starting

in October until June. Councilor Turner Pugh asked the City Manager to look at

the contract with the Medical Center to find out if we are obligated to pay the

Medical Center the difference and also look to see if we have to give them the

difference even if we do not collect the amount. City Manager Hugley added

that if our collection is at 9.2%, the Medical Center still gets the 3 mill

based on 100% collection. He said that we are working on this and would bring

something back to the Council.



General Fund Budget



? Municipal Court Clerk?s Office: In the FY-05 budget for Municipal Court,

there is $6,000.00 for overtime; this is to have employees to sign warrants

after hours. The office is already $1,400.00 in the hole in the overtime

account. In the mid-year adjustment there is $8,000.00 for overtime through

the end of the fiscal year. The predominant reason for warrants in the

mid-morning hours is domestic violence.



In response to questions regarding warrants being signed, Finance Director

Cole advised that the Clerk is paid for one hour for signing a warrant. City

Manager Hugley pointed out that the administration is checking with other

cities and counties to find out how they are handling the signing of warrants

after hours. He noted that Gwinnett County has 24-hour court; therefore, this

is not an issue for them because the judge could sign the warrant.



? Of the $673,263,000.00 increase is expenses, $191,332.00 is for 214 sets of

turnout gear for Fire & EMS.





Referring back to the overtime budget for Municipal Court Clerk?s Office,

Councilor Turner Pugh asked how this line item has continued to be used if

there were no funds available? Finance Director Cole explained that if

overtime has been incurred and there are no funds available; then, the

department must obtain approval from the City Manager. City Manager Hugley

suggested that we can make mention of a policy as part of the budget ordinance

that is submitted to the Mayor, that addresses overtime. Councilor Turner Pugh

recommended that it not be limited to just overtime but anytime a department

exceeds that funds available in the line items.



When there were questions regarding line item transfers, Finance Director

Cole assured that departments cannot exceed their bottom line budget, but are

able to transfer money from line item to line item. Finance Director Cole

explained that Elected Officials are able to take monies from other areas to

control their overtime, which means they have simply moved money around.



Police Chief?s salary: There is no money in this mid-year adjustment for

the Police Chief?s salary. The Police Chief?s salary is $77,311.52, the former

chief was at $79,000.00 plus. This ordinance just confirms the salary.



Responding to Councilor Suber?s question regarding the bailiff?s pay, City

Manager Hugley estimated that it is $50.00 or $60.00 a day. Mayor Poydasheff

explained that we received this recommendation from the grand jury to raise the

bailiff?s pay, but he has not had an opportunity to discuss this matter with

City Manager Hugley.



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Integrated Waste Fund: $9.3 million and would be increased by $15.7

million. The $15.7 million is not additional money but is in the Special

Projects Fund. The Special Projects Fund has this money out there and when the

actual expenses occur, we move it from the Special Project Funds to the

Integrated Waste Fund, in this case.



Multi-Governmental Fund: $3.2 million with a decrease of $74,000.00. The

multi-governmental fund is a grant fund.



Columbus Greenspace Trust Fund: On the $244,826.00, interest was accrued

in the amount of $822.00. All of this money was spent except approximately

$39,000.00 and we have to accept this interest as part of the budget, because

the balance has to be returned to the State, which is approximately $40,000.

that the City is not allowed to spend.



Workforce Investment Fund: This is 100% Federal Fund. The fund is being

increased by $210,000.00; there is no City money involved just federal money.



Metro Drug Task Force Fund: $131,093 to be increased by $112,791.00.

This money has to be accepted before they can use it.



Economic Development Fund: Increased by $5,300.00, which is based on

growth. The projection was 2.75% but it was actually 3.04%



Special Projects Fund: This is the fund that is being decreased by $15.7

million that was moved to the Integrated Waste Fund.



Civic Center Fund: Increased by $100,000.00 in revenue. This is with the

Clear Channel agreement whereby if they don?t bring in the required number of

concerts; then, they pay the City $6,000.00 per concert.



In the General Fund, $87,000.00 is the net difference coming from the fund

balance to support the General Fund.



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There being no further business to discuss and with the dialogue being

concluded, this meeting adjourned at 8:59 a.m.







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Sandra T. Davis, Deputy Clerk of Council