MINUTES
BUDGET REVIEW COMMITTEE
May 20, 2008
Members Present: Chairperson Skip Henderson, Mayor Pro Tem Evelyn Turner Pugh
and Councilors Wayne Anthony, R. Gary Allen, Mike Baker, Jerry ?Pops? Barnes,
Berry Henderson, Julius Hunter, Jr., Charles McDaniel and Evelyn Woodson. Also
present were City Manager Isaiah Hugley, City Attorney Clifton Fay, Deputy City
Managers David Arrington and Lisa Goodwin, Finance Director Pam Hodge, Clerk of
Council Tiny Washington and Administrative Secretary Shondell Duncan.
Members Absent: Councilor Davis was absent.
Call to Order: Chairperson Henderson called the meeting to order at 1:40 pm in
the Council Chambers, Plaza Level, of the Government Center.
Chairperson Henderson said, even though it is not said often enough, he do
want to acknowledge the staff of the Finance Department under Director Hodge?s
leadership and all the different departments for their hard work in compiling
this budget. He also said that this meeting should be very short ? there are
two items on the Add/Delete list.
*** *** ***
FY09 RECOMMENDED BUDGET:
City Manager Hugley said this should be the final budget meeting for this
proposed FY09 budget.
Director Hodge said there are two issues on the Add/Delete list: the
increase for retirees at 1 ?% beginning October 1, 2008 - at $168,000 and the
removal of the new position in the sewer fund (Data Technician) and move those
funds over to CIP which would have a zero dollar effect ? in both cases, the
total expenditure for the operating funds is $210,751,819.00; total revenues -
$209,565,634.00 and use
of fund balance $1.1 million out of the general fund and $44,000 out of the
parking management.
Director Hodge said the increase for the retirees ? they went back and
looked at the funding source for that and it can be done out of salary savings.
She said we would not see the total effect of the increase for the retirees
until the following fiscal year when the contributions to the pension fund will
increase.
In response to a question from Chairperson Henderson, Director Hodge said
the increase for the retirees would start October 1, 2008, which is the same
time as that of the general government employees.
Director Hodge said there were two job reclassifications instead of the new
position (Data technician) and the funding for this will be transferred to the
CIP for sewer rehab and the total fund will not change.
Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh then made a motion to approve the two items on
the Add/Delete list as presented by Director Hodge. Seconded by Councilor
Henderson and carried unanimously by those nine members of Council present with
Councilor Davis being absent from this meeting.
City Manager Hugley said he would like to mention the handout provided,
which is a referral from Councilor Davis regarding the public safety special
teams and information requested by Councilor Woodson regarding special
certification in general government.
Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh asked if these positions were graded by UGA
during the initial study.
Director of Human Resource Tom Barron said he spoke with Dr. Condry last
week to verify Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh?s question about hazardous duty being
included in the evaluation and he confirmed that they were.
Councilor Woodson said when she was bringing up an issue about the one-cent
sales tax, and what Council was doing for city employees, she was told that it
was
going to be addressed in the budget session. She said during the budget
session, how it was addressed was with the pay plan ? bringing it up to 100%
but she said she wants to go on the record by saying she is not satisfied with
that.
She said she still wants to see (once Council knows if the one-cent sales tax
will pass) what else can be done for our city employees.
City Manager Hugley said this would apply in next fiscal year budget.
Chairperson Henderson pointed out that what Councilor Woodson is referring
to is not from the one-cent sales tax but rather something in addition from a
separate revenue string ? whether it is fund balance, general operating revenue
or something else. It will not be coming out of the one-cent sales tax.
Director Hodge said the other two items to be discussed today are the
public hearings and the advertising schedule. She said the advertising would be
in the newspaper next Tuesday; one is advertising and notice of public hearing
for the FY09 Budget on June 3, 2008 at 5:30 pm- this will be the first reading
of the budget ordinance. The other is the notice of the property tax increase.
This notice is saying that we are going to collect because of the increase in
the digest, more tax dollars than we would have collected in FY08. She
cautioned that this is not to say that an individual will receive a higher tax
bill, but rather this is in total because of the increase in the digest we
expect more taxes. She said the language in the ad is a requirement from the
State and as such, cannot be changed.
Director Hodge further provided the following dates:
June 3, 2008 ? Taxpayers Bill of Rights Public Hearing ? 9:00 a.m.
Taxpayers Bill of Rights Public Hearing 6:00 p.m.
First reading of the Budget Ordinance
Advertise Taxpayers Bill of Rights Public Hearing
Advertise 5-year History tax Millage
June 10, 2008 ? Taxpayers Bill of Rights Public Hearing ? 9:00 a.m.
Second reading of the Budget Ordinance
First reading of Millage Ordinance
June 17, 2008 ? Second reading of Millage Ordinance
Councilor Woodson asked if this was appropriate that once this goes out to
the newspaper if it can also be advertised on the Access Channel clarifying
what it is especially for those not watching today.
Chairperson Henderson expressed his thankfulness to the staff (especially
Finance Department) for their hard work.
*** *** ***
With there being no further questions/comments regarding this session of
this budget FY09 proposal, Councilor Woodson made a motion for adjournment.
Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Turner Pugh and carried unanimously by those nine
members of Council present for this meeting with Councilor Davis being absent
and the time being 2:05 P.M.
Tiny Washington, CMC
Clerk of Council
The Council of Columbus, Georgia
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