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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - January 18, 2005 B-01 SMAGENDA ITEM V3001 '• CITY OF LODI . ` COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TM AGENDA TITLE: Discuss 2005-06 Budget Strategy MEETING DATE: January 18, 2005 PREPARED BY: Finance Director RECOMMENDED ACTION: That Council continues discussions regarding the 2005-06 Budget Strategy. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The City Council continued discussions of the 2005-06 budget at the Council meeting on January 11, 2005. Staff would like to continue that discussion during the Tuesday morning meeting scheduled on January 18,2005. Attached is a general outline of the points of discussion for the meeting in outline form. There was no discussion related to the Accounting policy changes on January 11, 2005. Staff would like to begin the meeting Tuesday morning with that topic. Following is a brief discussion of that point and the other topics we would like to present on Tuesday: Discussion of Accounting Policy Changes: 1) Many departments and programs are accounted for in the General Fund. In accordance with budget policies, this has involved subsidizing some activities with general revenues. And, in other cases it has involved paying for general activities with designated revenues. Although this can be considered a permissible short term practice, it is not a practice which should be continued on a long term basis. With the budget challenge we now face it is particularly important that we make all the efforts we can at clarifying and identifying financial resources with the associated services that those resources are utilized for. Specific examples of where the matching of resources with the associated programs needs to be more carefully evaluated is in the Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Community Center and Public Works departments. Ultimately the objective is to make it as clear as possible within our accounting and budgeting structure the relationship between revenues and services provided. However, aside from the accounting practices we follow, the question for City Council is whether general revenues should be used to subsidize operations that could be paid for with direct revenues. Staff seeks your direction on this question. The answer to this policy question may result in the increase of some fees and the reclassification of some activities out of the general fund and into separate "specially designated funds." 2) Internal Services Activities are accounted for in the general fund for the most part. In the past some of these activities have been reclassified to other funds (Medical Insurance, Workers Compensation and other insurances). In order to more clearly associate the cost of APPROVED: Jqfiet S. Keefer, Interim City Manager services provided internally by the Finance, Information Systems, Human Resources, Building Facilities and Vehicle Maintenance Departments, staff is recommending that these activities be reclassified to Internal Service Funds. Discussion of Revenue Enhancements: 1) General Revenues- there are several elements associated with enhancing general revenues. One of the primary ways in which to increase general revenues is through investment in those activities which will result in increased economic activity. Staff proposes that all programs involved with enhancing economic activity be evaluated and prioritized so that continuing support of those programs and activities, which result in long term benefits to the community, be viewed as having the highest priority within the community promotion budget for 2005-06 and beyond. 2) Several departments will be recommending that the fees and rates that they charge for specific programs and activities be increased in order to ensure that those activities not be subsidized by general revenues as has been the case in past budgets. Specific examples of these revenues will be discussed on Tuesday and include Fees for Parks and Recreation activities, Fees for Community events at the Hutchins Street Square and Fire inspection fees. Discussion of Mid Year Budget Adjustments: There will be one significant budget adjustment that staff is recommending for 2004-05. The adjustment that will be recommended by staff is that the Community Development Department fills one of the current vacancies and starts the General Plan review process. This will entail hiring staff in the current fiscal year and a consultant at a later time; and will be funded with Impact Mitigation Fees. Discussion of Internal Audit Function: As indicated to the Council at the previous meeting, the Finance Department is interested in starting a review of operations of departments for efficiencies and effectiveness. This would be a significant commitment of resources to accomplish this objective; and will be reviewed with the City Manager in conjunction with discussions with all departments before it will be considered for implementation. Gann Appropriations Limitation; Staff will discuss the limitation amount and how it has been adjusted over the years to arrive at the amount for which it is currently set. FUNDING: Not applicable. Ja s R. Krueger, Finance Director Outline for Budget Discussions at Shirtsleeve Meetings Tuesday_ January 11, 2005 Discussion of Meet and Confer Issues A. Salary reductions B. PERS Contributions C. Employee Health Insurance Contribution D. Reductions in Force E. Outsourcing options Discussion of Service Priorities in Conjunction with Community Survey A. Results of Survey B. Suggested weighting of priorities, cut %ps and target budgets to arrive at resolution of $2.2 M imbalance. Discussion of Accounting policy changes A. Reclassification of Community Development, Parks and Recreation, and Community Square to Special Revenue Funds. B. Reclassification of Internal Services including Finance, Information Systems Division, Building Facilities and Equipment Maintenance divisions into Internal Services Funds. Tuesday January 18, 2005 Discussion of Revenue Enhancements Review Mid -year Budget Adjustments Discussion of establishment of Internal (Operations) Audit Function to review efficiencies and effectiveness of City Operations Gann Appropriations Limitation Tuesd#2 January 25, 2005 Discuss recommended strategies for development of 2005-06 budget document Review Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for Fiscal Year ending June 30, 2004 Preliminary Information Only, To be used for Developing Priorities for Expenditures Reductions Baseline Tar et Cuts Proposed % Reduction City Attorney 421,400 400,300 21,100 5% City Clerk 570,600 547,700 27,900 5% City Manager 696,900 664,600 32,300 5% Community Center 1,513,600 1,332,000 181,600 12% Police 12,744,400 12,107,200 637,200 5% Fire 7,709,400 7,323,900 385,500 5% Community Dev. Dpt 1,974,000 1,855,600 118,400 6% Parks 2,163,600 1,904,000 259,600 12% RecreaWn 1,699,600 1,495,600 204,000 120/0 3,863,200 3,399,600 463,600 Public Works 8,199,700 7,543,700 656,000 8% Informations Services Division 1,195,800 1,076,200 119,600 10% Human Resources 689,400 620,500 68,900 10% Finance 2,035,600 1,832,000 203,600 10% Non -Departmental 803,700 707,300 96,400 12% Preliminary Information Only, To be used for Developing Priorities for Expenditures Reductions Totals By Function Public Safety City Council and Appointees Total (General Fund) Public Works Parks and Recreation Community Center Internal Services Community Development a 5% 5% 5% 8% 12% 12% 10% 6% Total Cuts 42,603,700 59,574,200 7% Preliminary Information Only. To be used for Developing Priorities for Expenditures Reductions cuts 20,453,800 19,431,100 1,022,700 1.688.900 1.612.600 76.300 22,142,700 21,043,700 1,099,000 8,199,700 7,543,700 656,000 3,863,200 3,399,600 463,600 1,699,600 1,495,600 204,000 4,724,500 4,236,000 488,500 1,974,000 1,855,600 118,400 a 5% 5% 5% 8% 12% 12% 10% 6% Total Cuts 42,603,700 59,574,200 7% Preliminary Information Only. To be used for Developing Priorities for Expenditures Reductions