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Columbia City Council report June 2, 2008 meeting In last Monday night's June 3, 2008 City County meeting
Complete proposed budget available at the City Clerk's Office The City of Columbia is flush with funds. That's good, Mayor Bell told the City Council last night. "It's a lifesaver," Mayor Bell said about having the high general fund balance. The estimated fund balance for the City's General Fund for the end of 2008-2009 is $2,146,700.00, up from $2,048,200.00 estimated to be on hand at the end of June 30, 2008. The figures were included in the proposed 2008-2009 City Budget which received a first reading at the Monday, June 3, 2008 regular meeting of the Columbia City Council. "The City has done a good job," Mayor Bell said. "We have this money. It's a lot of money, but it's all planned. That's why we have the money." Insurance premiums tax projection could be $500,000 low More good news for the city is that the actual picture may be even rosier. The budget also shows that the primary source of the city's high balances is that, in it's actual 2007-2008 budget, over have the general fund money came from the Insurance License Fees the budget entry name for the city's tax on insurance premiums, which is among the very highest in the Commonwealth. Last year, the premiums tax brought in $1,136,240.00. Estimates had been for the City to receive $870,000. And, the estimate for the 2008-2009 year is for that figure to decline to $900,000, not likely, with insurance premiums going up. Even without the new insurance fees generated from annexations and increased insurance premiums, that figure, based on the City's experience in the past year, would be $1,483,955.56, more than one-half million dollars than is projected. City Clerk Carolyn Edwards said revenues are all estimated conservatively. The insurance premium tax revenue is not easily unpredictable, she said. It is affected by cancellations and by bigger payments because of state insurance audits from time to time, City Clerk Carolyn Edwards said. The new budget does take into account the downturn in the building industry. That is dropping from an estimated actual $12,000 for the year ending June 30, 2008, to $4,000.00 for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. Among the plans for the money are ones which will take care of the infrastructure. For instance, the Mayor said, "We'll need to put street lights in Green Hills. We want to take care of those folks," he said. "We've got priorities." The budget projects an increase in the garbage fund balance of almost 50%. The estimated carry forward is $70,572, for June 30, 2008, to $105,222.00 for June 30, 2009. Both the Municipal Aid Fund and the Local Government Economic Assistance funds are projected to end the year without zero balances, but the Columbia Utilities fund carried forward is projected to be $13,534,676.00 on June 30, 2009. That is down from $13,811,171.00 projected for the fund at the end of June 2008. The high figure does need an explanation. The Columbia Utilities Commission's $13 million dollar figures includes all assets (after depreciation, where applicable), not just available cash in the bank. The Utilities Commission has been abolished and the budget is being restructured to conform to the rules for the City of Columbia's other budgets. Telegraphing a message The defense of the high balances was a not very subtle message telegraphed to the Adair County Fiscal Court and possibly to those who request to join the recipients of generous "donations" not to try to get the City to dip into its treasure. Donations, are included in the city's $41,000 projected Miscellaneous Expenses, which go for everything from travel to conferences, to dues, bird screams, fire works, give-aways, promotions, surveys, and contributions to the Center on Aging, the Food Bank, the Folklore Festival, Christmas, flowers, Downtown Days, Chataugua, and $10,000 to the Columbia-Adair County Chamber of Commerce. In addition, some similar miscellaneous expenditures are included departmentally, such as $700 allocated for promotions in the City Police Budget. Not covered in the "donations" are in-kind support of various causes advocated by office staff for specific charities such as the City Office's Coats for Kids and employee time and city assets for events for the Adair County Relay for Life. The items were included in a first reading of the proposed budget. First reading on budget Mayor Bell and City Clerk Carolyn Edwards introduced the City's 2008-2009 Budget, which was read by City Attorney Marshall Loy. The budget provides for a 5% pay raise for city employees and a $50 a month increase for the city payment to Dog Warden Jimmy Harmon. The budget estimates total main account revenues of $2,183,100.00, up from an estimated $1,823,878.00 for the previous year. It shows estimated actual revenues for the fiscal year 2007-2008 of $2,051,290. "Revenue projections are always estimated on the low side," City Clerk Carolyn Edwards said. The budget estimates the most dramatic increase in allocations for fuel expenses. The Columbia Police Department had an estimated current year allocation of $30,000, but that rose to $33,000 in the estimate for the year just ended, for 2008-2009, the City estimates the total will rise to a whopping $50,000. The budget estimates similar fuel cost increases for other departments. The new budget shows an actual decrease for the cost of the City Police Department, down an estimated actual expenses of $826,470 to $800,675.00 for the coming year. The big drop, however, is in the amount allocated for capital expenditures, from $63,387 to no expenses in the coming year. Actual operating expenses are projected to increase, approximately $37,000 for the department. The police budget also includes $700 for promotional items. City Street maintenance estimate halved for coming year The City Street Department has an increased budget estimate well under the $456,112 projected a year earlier, but up $18,101.00 over the actual expenditures for the current year. The new budget estimates street maintenance at $72,000, up $2,000 from the current year's estimated actual expense, but less than half the $159,062 in the estimate from 2007-2008. City Streets fuel estimate for the new year is $10,000, up from an estimated actual expense of $7,300. Fire Department budget increases nearly one-fifth The City Fire Department budget estimate for the coming year is up $16,171 over the estimated actual expenditures for year ending June 30, 2008. The City of Columbia Garbage Department costs estimates up The new budget projects an increase in the Garbage Department costs, from a current fiscal year estimated actual cost of $418,825.00 to $460,350.00. Wages are estimated to go up from $137,000. to $152,000. And landfill costs are estimated to rise from $165,000 to $180,00. The budget reading came after the city considered a request from Adair County Judge Executive Ann Melton, at its May meeting, requesting the City fund its share of the cost of payroll for the new Enhanced 911 Center. Councillor Edwin Taylor, who is opposed to any re-bursement, received a second from Councillor Joe Moore on his proposal to table consideration for one year. In the discussion period, Councillor Linda Waggener asked, "That's saying 'No' to the request, isn't it?" When that was affirmed in a nod from Councillor June Parson. Councillors Parson and Waggener were joined by Senior Councillor Charles Grimsley and Councillor Craig Dean in defeating that motion. Subsequently, a proposal from Councillor Grimsley, proposing 1) That the City share in setting up a National Crime Information Center (NCIC) and Law Information Network Kentucky (LINK) program, 2) That a joint City-County 911 oversight board be established, and 3) That a fair stipend for dispatcher salaries be established was adopted on a 5-1 vote. Councillors Grimsley, Dean, Waggener, Moore and Parson affirmed the action. Councillor Edwin Taylor voted no. "All I have to say," Councillor Taylor said, "is that you caved." Details of how the negotiations will take place weren't discussed, but might come within a special session to have a second reading on the 2008-2009 budget, which could be held later this month. At one time, the City was paying $30,000 a year to help fund the dispatcher salaries. The CJE requested funding based on a study of the City Police Department's messages last year. Police Chief Mark Harris said those figures could include calls for such things as funeral escorts and for lookouts for fugitives. "There might be a car coming into Adair County at Coburg and there's a call to be on the lookout. That wouldn't seem to be a call we should be held responsible for," he said. Depending on whose figures are used, the argument seems to go in many directions. In the end, it may be decided on realities, not the least of which is that the Fiscal Court's 911 Center is not be required to serve the City Police Department. City gets 4.125% bond financing bid The Council unanimously approved a second reading, by City Attorney Marshall Loy, of an ordinance approving the selling of $115,000 in bonds to finance the City's share of the Greenhills-Parrott Avenue sewer expansion. Following that, the Council unanimously approved the sale of the bonds US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Administration, at 4.125% interest. The bid was submitted by Ken Slone, State Director of the RDA. The 6-0 vote came on a motion by Senior Councillor Charles Grimsley, seconded by Craig Dean. Mayor Bell announces receipt of a $273,000 grant Mayor Bell announced the receipt of a $273,000 to add sewers to the Parkview subdivision, located off Jamestown Street just south of the Columbia Church of the Nazarene. The subdivision is on the east side of the road. It is the last major part of city which did not sewer availability when the Mayor took office. Mayor Bell recommended Bell Engineering, the firm handling the Greenhills/Parrott Avenue project, to also be the engineers for this job. The Council unanimously approved that recommendation on a motion by Edwin Taylor, seconded by Linda Waggener. The vote was unanimous. Bell Engineering is represented locally by Ronnie Grant, Columbia. City adopts new insurance carrier The Columbia City Council voted last night, unanimously, to switch health insurance carriers. Mayor Bell recommended a change from the current Anthem Blue Cross program to a self-insured plan being established by the Kentucky League of Cities. The new plan will have all the benefits of the Anthem plan with a few added features, primarily coverage of prescribed over the counter medicine, City Clerk Carolyn Edwards said. The plan will cost the same as Anthem in the first year, but the prospect is for future savings, Mayor Bell said. The city was facing a big increase in premiums with Anthem. The increase will be 10% in the next year, the City Clerk said. Routine matter routinely passed The Council routinely passed, by unanimous votes, approval of the minutes of the May 5, 2008, regular meeting and the May 20, 2008 special meetings. Council sends message to Jody, President Williams The Columbia City Council approved a resolution to be mailed to those concerned recommending that House Speaker Jody Williams and President David Williams follow the proposal of Governor Steve Beshear to reform the State's Pension Plan. "I don't know if this will do a bit of good," Mayor Bell said, "but at least it won't hurt." Mayor Bell recommended the resolution, saying that pension costs threaten to wreck local government and school district finances. The resolution was approved unanimously by Council on a 6-0 voice vote, on a motion by Edwin Taylor, seconded by June Parson. Mayor Bell appoints committee to study noise ordinances At the suggestion of Councillor Linda Waggener, a committee including Councillor Waggener and Police Chief Mark Harris, was appointed by Mayor Pat Bell to review the city's noise ordinance, compare it to those in other nearby cities, and bring recommendations back to the council. At least one more member is yet to be named. Other Council CommentsBesides the proposal by Councillor Linda Waggener to have a committee study a the possibility of a new noise ordinance for the City of Columbia, comments by other Councillors included one other. Councillor Craig Dean asked the Council to remember the 2nd Annual Dancing with the Stars extravangza, set for 7:00pmCT, Saturday, June 7, 2008. Adjournment after over an hour Following the lengthy session, which lasted over one hour, Councillor Joe Moore called for adjournment. This time, his words were, "Let's go home." About your Columbia City Council The Columbia City Council holds regular monthly meetings each first Monday in the Council Meeting Room, City Hall, 116 Campbellsville ST, Columbia, KY. Mayor Pat Bell. Councillors: Charles Grimsley, Craig Dean, Linda Waggener, Edwin Taylor, Joe Moore, and June Parson. City Attorney, Marshall Loy. City Clerk, Carolyn Edwards. Chief of Police, Mark D. Harris. City Street Department General Manager, Donnie Rowe. City Sanitation Department Supervisor, Ken Dulin. City Water Superintendent, Dana Rogers. City Gas Superintendent, Joe Hare. City Utilities Office Manager, Ann Marie Nixon. City Events Planner, Rhonda Loy. This story was posted on 2008-06-03 09:03:53
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