Skip to content Skip to left sidebar Skip to footer

David Jennings

Forum Replies Created

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • in reply to: Draft Budget 08-30-23 Comments #5222
    David Jennings
    Keymaster

    1. Need to add.
    2. Added $2,649
    3. Yes
    4. Council majority wanted to end ditch mowing. Ditch maintenance is in a separate account.
    5. 6281-50 is an offset to Sales Tax collected. Council approved getting bids for resurfacing of Fairfield and Baywood. Since we have not executed a contract for that yet, no funds have been spent. We currently have $293k in that account for the road resurfacing and are seeking bids.

    6285-50 is for ditch maintenance. We increased that amount because we ended the ditch mowing.

    6. That is through 10 months. Fiscal year begins October 1st.
    7. 6225-10 is an account that should have been used for maintenance of city property not specifically tied to one of the departments. We are going to use that account properly this year. An example would be repair of the electronic sign at the entrance to the city.
    8. 6245-10 At this point we are trying to consolidate accounts. We may go back to using this one for miscellaneous spending but have not decided yet.
    9. 6971-10 Thank you, that was an oversight. This is warehouse storage. We need to determine the best way forward. For now, I have added $2,640 for next year.
    10. 6234-70 This is another example of consolidating and correcting coding of expenditures.
    11. 6369-70 The overbudget amount is the project that council approved for water line restoration that was no part of the bond money.

    in reply to: Draft Budget 08-30-23 Comments #5221
    David Jennings
    Keymaster

    Thank you.

    in reply to: SETH Funds Grant Application #5034
    David Jennings
    Keymaster

    I sent a contractor over there yesterday to get a scope of what they need. I’m planning on delivering the application today so that they can get started. Once the application is in, you can be the advocate for the project or portions of it. Sound good?

    in reply to: 2022-23 Draft budget 2 #4902
    David Jennings
    Keymaster

    Okay, I understand your Line 5 question now. That number is based upon last year’s budget. I doubt we will be able to come that far under budget again but to be conservative, we put that number in as a ‘worst case’ expenditure. Of course, if that is the case, then the net positive to the city would be $80k. If you attend the workshop you can try to get a different number there and use a lower number to negate some of the proposed tax increase.

    During council’s discussion in the previous workshops, I think we’ve had three?, they discussed the age/condition of the current fleet extensively. They arrived at the conclusion that if we replace a vehicle each year, then we will be turning in a 4 year old vehicle every year, eventually. The budgeted vehicle is to replace a 7 year old one that currently spends more time in the shop than on the road. Again, you can make your case to the other members and perhaps they will change their minds. There are multiple officers for each vehicle. Starting tomorrow, we will have all full-time positions filled. We are still short of reserves but continue to advertise. Our retention is actually pretty good all things considered it is a difficult time to be an officer. Any time we do have an officer resign, there will be some people in the city that react negatively to that. I remain a big supporter of our PD and haven’t heard the complaints that you reference and do not share that view.

    I agree with having the city manager come to council for expenditures that are not budgeted. That is why he has come before council to do that. Sometimes the unexpected happens and we have to adjust. I disagree with your comment that we shouldn’t budget until we have to spend it. I don’t know how that would even work.

    We are in a good financial position because of the budgeting tactics and spending restraints that we have shown. As I mentioned during the council meeting on the 12th, the current proposed tax rate is 12.6% BELOW the inflation adjusted rate from 2015. I know of no other governmental body that can say that. During their discussions in the workshops, council members discussed the realities of the inflationary times that we are living in. I hope that you get an opportunity to participate in the remaining workshops.

    in reply to: 2022-23 Draft budget 2 #4899
    David Jennings
    Keymaster

    Bo, I’ll try to answer your specific questions.

    1. That is correct.

    2. The Utility Fund in Draft 2 calls for a rate increase for two reasons. The first draft (and current state) shows that the UF has more expenditures than revenue. We need to operate that fund at least at a break even point and to contribute to the bond repayment. Secondly, as you are aware, any increase in taxes does not affect those residents over 65. During our workshops, members expressed that because of this, a water/sewer/trash increase would be the fairest way to address some of the imbalance.

    3. Yes.

    4. It was a cost savings and in fact did work as planned for a while. As we cleaned everything up and made certain that all functions were being done properly, the workload became higher. We also knew that health problems would probably affect the part-time position. With that in mind, Troy and I added an optional Draft 2-AP for council to consider leading up to the third budget workshop. I don’t know if council will approve that or not but now that we do not have a part-time person, I will put a Draft 3 together for council to consider. That draft 3 will include a full-time employee and defund the part-time position. Council will have to decide what direction the city should take.

    5. I cannot find that. 6130-30 is the 1/2 of the bonus for the city manager. I’ve looked through the other lines to try to find something like that but have not been able to. Could you clarify?

    6. That is Innovative Solutions. This is one of the problem areas that cropped up because of my answer to your #4. We have found multiple coding errors where amounts were assigned to the wrong expenditure categories and are in the process of correct those. Draft 3 will have $63k in that account, which was originally assigned to 6369-10. That account will now show $8k.

    DJ

    in reply to: General Questions #4891
    David Jennings
    Keymaster

    Paul,

    Re 6375-30 Prisoner Services, I have reviewed the contract with La Porte and lowered the budgeted amount from $24,000 to $21,122.76. A coding error will be corrected for the YTD expenditures.

    Re 6392-30 Dispatch Contract, I have reviewed the contract with La Porte and lowered the budgeted amount from $48,000 to $45,218.64. A coding error will be corrected for the YTD expenditures.

    The coding error placed expenditures in Prisoner Services that should have been placed in Dispatch Contract.

    in reply to: General Questions #4890
    David Jennings
    Keymaster

    Paul, see below.

    These changes will be on Draft 3:

    Changed 6369-10 expenditures from $63,181.98 to $8,000.38
    Changed 6369-10 proposed budget from $1,200 to $12,000

    Changed 6369-50 expenditures from $0.00 to $5,5181.60

    Re 6390-20 State Violation Fees, it appears to be correct. We are still auditing this account.

    Re 6375-30 Prisoner Services La Porte Raised their rates. Draft 3 will show an increase.

    Re 6369-50, see above.

    Re 6236-70 Supplies: Software – We upgraded the utility billing software over the last two years. Yes, a one time cost.

    in reply to: 2022-23 Draft Budget 1 #4861
    David Jennings
    Keymaster

    This draft is based upon a two cent reduction in the current tax rate. There is an across the board raise of 4% for all employees. There is an additional $36,000 to replenish our Public Works inventory. There is one new vehicle for the Police Department.

    As you can see, there is a ($67,325.34) deficit in the General Fund. There is a $7,132.30 surplus in the Utility Fund. The Refuse Department has a deficit of $48,000.

    in reply to: Speed humps #4389
    David Jennings
    Keymaster

    Unfortunately they didn’t come in yet. We’ll discuss them and then install them when they arrive. I’ll put it back on the next meeting’s agenda.

    in reply to: Third Draft Budget FY 2021/2022 #4071
    David Jennings
    Keymaster

    After our meeting last night I found an error in a key formula. Basically, in one of the cells, the Police Capital Expenditures was not included in one of the sum totals. That increases the deficit by $52,000.

    Click here to view the corrected version of the General Fund Draft Budget 3.

    Click here to view the corrected version of the Utility Fund Draft Budget 3.

    in reply to: Fairfield paving #3989
    David Jennings
    Keymaster

    That should be “scrape off” not “scrap off”. Note that you can’t edit these posts due to state law.

    in reply to: Fairfield paving #3986
    David Jennings
    Keymaster

    Here is a quote that Troy obtained back in March. Fairfield Ave Quote March 16, 2021

    I spoke with the rep about the quote. The numbers are still good. I did not request a formal quote for concrete but a rough estimate is 50% more. I’ll bring this up at the next council meeting and if council wants to move forward, we’ll do a formal bid process and see where we land.

    So this quote basically breaks down like this:

    Option A: Mill (scrap off) two inches of the current surface and then put two inches of new topping on the old base. The cost would be $54,810 for Fairfield to Sunrise and an additional $33,495 from Sunrise to the curve on Miramar. Total cost would be $88,305 plus the cost to bond the project.

    Option B: Mill (scrap off) ten inches of the current base and surface, then put eight inches of base and two inches of topping down. The cost would be $138,000 for Fairfield to Sunrise and an additional $52,500 from Sunrise to the curve on Miramar. Total cost would be $190,500 plus the cost to bond the project.

    Please ask any questions or offer any suggestions so that we can have a productive discussion at the next council meeting.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)