Posted: 7/5/05
By MaryHelen Swanson
The first budget meeting of the year is always the kind that sends shivers down one's spine.
Not that city or county department heads are overzealous, but their initial budget requests usually evoke a resounding "yeow" from folks.
So it was at the North Branch City Council's special worksession last Thursday night.
In two-plus hours, Financial Director David Stutelberg laid out the facts on the 2006 budget levy, one that had already been pared by city staff from an increase of just over 28 percent to and increase of 18.4 percent or from $3,371,000 to $3,118,000. The 2005 budget levy was $2,633,000.
At least three of the council members were not overly excited about the 18 percent increase either.
ìDonít let the 18 percent scare you,î Stutelberg cautioned. He said it does not mean there will be an 18 percent increase in people's property taxes.
A big factor in that statement is the growth of the city. The more it grows, the more people, business and industries the tax burden can be spread over. And, over the past year, North Branch has grown.
Much of the levy increase would be due to additional personnel. For instance, City Administrator Joe Lynch is recommending the hiring of a full-time economic development director.
Currently, Stutelberg splits his duties and time between economic development and city finances.
The new position would come at a net cost to the city of over $76,800, which includes salary and benefits. Lynch justified his request by detailing what has come about in the past two years in the area of development.
He noted that the city has studied a comprehensive plan of utility improvements, housing and business growth.
In doing so, Lynch pointed out, the city has embarked on a venture to create a unique mixed-use development in the northwest section of town where affordable housing, commercial and industrial growth will be encouraged.
In addition, Lynch noted that the city has begun studying improvements in well-established neighborhoods of the city in an effort to update physical infrastructure which he says should have been done many years ago.
Further, the city needs to complete an economic development program that was started more than five years ago which still hasn't turned out as the city had hoped, that being the Southgate development.
Lynch believes all of this and more justifies the need for a full-time economic development director.
Other personnel additions being considered includes an administrative assistant, a net cost of $43,400, a police officer, $51,000, a public works employee, $23,600, and engineering technician, $28,900, a liquor store clerk, $20,000 and a night supervisor in the police department, $3,100.
Police Chief Jules Zimmerís justification for an additional officer includes a desire to extend services in community policing and crime prevention.
He noted that in an effort to reach out to the community better, the police department will initiate two new programs ìProject Charlieî and ìPeddle with the Police.î
ìAdditional staff would allow more positive contact with the citizens we serve,î he said in a memo to the council.
Chief Zimmer notes that calls for service continue to increase. Public requests for extra patrol in new developments because of burglaries, thefts, suspicious persons or vehicles and traffic complaints are the norm, he said.
Zimmer said there are many times when only one officer is on duty. Response time can be delayed, he noted, if that officer is with a prisoner or performing other duties that need immediate attention.
The NB department currently has seven officers, one investigator, one lieutenant, two assistants and a police chief. Zimmer said officers many times take the brunt of criticism from the public for delayed response to their needs.
Zimmer is also asking for a night supervisor for the police department.
The position would be filled by an existing officer who would be promoted to the status of sergeant, with a pay grade the same as an investigator.
That officer, he said, would assume the duties of scheduling, maintenance of vehicles and buildings, performance reviews and assisting with the purchase of equipment.
The promoted officer, he noted, would be expected to field phone calls at home and not be compensated for them.
Public Works Director Gary Schaefer is requesting one additional employee whose time would be split between public works and the wastewater departments.
His justification for the staff person is that there are increased street miles and cul-de-sacs needing sweeping and plowing, and additional work required at the new wastewater treatment plant.
Even with all the new position considerations, staff (Lynch, Stutelberg and clerk Bridgitte Konrad) were recommending only the EDA, administrative assistant and night supervisor positions.
The initial budget includes $245,900 for capital outlay, items deemed necessary in the police, fire and public works departments as well as office renovation in City Hall to streamline the flow of traffic and better serve the public, according to Lynch.
The budget and levy presented last week showed that expenditures exceed revenues by $25,000.
The council, at the urging of member Amy Oehlers, suggested that the position of admin assistant be cut, perhaps in half, with more time going to public works.
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No tax impact yet
Budget increases for current staff include 3.1 percent COLA effective January 1 for all employees, and a merit increase (1 percent to 5 percent possible) of approximately 4 percent given on anniversary date. In addition, staff is expecting a 15 percent increase in the cityís cost of health benefits.
Union employees have a contract through 2006 which gives them a 7 percent salary increase.
Stutelbergís goal: to have a budget that allows staff to run the city as effectively as possible and do it with the lowest impact on residents.
There was no data from the county with which to determine the impact on individual property owners of the proposed budget and levy.
Stutelberg expects to have that ready for the next budget meetings set for 6 p.m. July 26.
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