HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES Town Board Budget Study Session 2002-11-05 Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado, November 5, 2002
Minutes of a Regular meeting of the TOWN BOARD BUDGET MEETING
of the Town of Estes Park, Larimer County, Colorado. Meeting held in the
Municipal Building in said Town of Estes Park on the 5th day of November,
2002.
Board: Mayor Baudek, Trustees Barker, Doylen, Gillette, Habecker,
Jeffrey-Clark, Newsom
Attending: All
Also Attending: Town Administrator Widmer, Assistant Town Administrator
Repola, Finance Officer Brandjord, Town Clerk O’Connor,
Director Matzke, Water Supt. Goehring
Absent: None
Mayor Baudek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2003/2004 BUDGET PRESENTATION OF ENTERPRISE FUNDS.
Town Administrator Widmer outlined the budget items for review during this meeting,
and that the Public Hearing is scheduled November 12, 2002.
Assistant Town Administrator Repola and Finance Officer Brandjord reviewed the
following enterprise funds, and further explained the “asterisk” approval system:
LIGHT AND POWER FUND. Items of interest include:
Revenue: Assumes a customer consumption increase of 3.2% each
year, and rate increase of 5.7% in 2003, and 5.1% in 2004. Rates
have not been increased since 1987, and the Town remains below
the national average on electric rates. Although a rate increase is
being proposed, any increase in rates must follow statutory
procedure, including a public hearing. Discussion followed on the
affect on the fund balance during economic downturn, the need to
expedite the rate study and having sufficient opportunity for study of
the results prior to implementation.
Staff direction:
Provide definitions of “asset”, “cash on hand”, etc.
Source of Supply: Assumes a rate increase of 4.0% in 2004 from
PRPA.
Yearly Wind Power purchase of $12,000/yr.
Personnel Levels: Assumes a one-third portion of the Microcomputer
Support Specialist (new position); 2 additional staffing positions were
removed from the budget.
Administration: Christmas Decoration Contract Installation/Supplies.
Mayor Baudek questioned the cost efficiency between purchasing
and leasing new computers.
Staff direction:
Finance Officer Brandjord will provide data on purchasing
and leasing new computers.
Capital Projects: Fall River Picnic Shelter, AS400 Upgrades, Web
and Network Server purchases, ERT meters (new & replacements),
Time of Use meters, and, equipment & vehicle replacements.
Staff direction:
Review the possibility of returning to one backhoe to be
Town Board Budget Meeting – November 5, 2002 - Page 2
shared between all departments.
Infrastructure: Fund detail items include: EPURA Street Light
Replacement Program, and standard street light upgrades,
transformers, MacGregor Ranch underground, etc.
Transfers.
Ending Fund Balance. The ending fund balance in 2004 is $689,330;
the goal for this fund is $2 Million±.
WATER FUND. Items of interest include:
Revenue: Assumes a continued rate increase of 2.9% each year.
Personnel Levels: Assumes a one-third portion of the Microcomputer
Support Specialist and full portion for a Backflow Prevention
Specialist (new positions).
Administration/Engineering Services: Financial plan/rate study,
Master Plan Update, Mary’s Lake Pump design/construction
management, Fall River Corridor tank and line.
Capital: security equipment, gas detectors, SCADA computer
replacement, vehicle replacements and new pickup truck for the new
position Backflow Prevention Specialist.
Infrastructure.
Ending Fund Balance. The 2004 ending fund balance is $1,957,243.
2003/2004 BUDGET CONSIDERATIONS AND DECISIONS.
1. Pay Plan Proposal:
1.9% Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA)
1.1% Merit Pool
In a memorandum dated November 5, 2002, Administrator Widmer reviewed
the three major components contained in the Compensation Policy and
Procedure: Market Analysis, COLA, and Merit Pay.
Market Analysis. With the exception of Light and Power positions, the
Town’s market cities include Brighton, Commerce City, Louisville,
Lafayette, Castle Rock, Durango, Golden, Parker, and Steamboat
Springs. Light and Power market cites include Ft. Collins, Ft. Morgan,
Fountain, Glenwood Springs, Gunnison, La Junta, Lamar, Longmont and
Loveland. The data indicates that some positions should be re-graded to
respond to changing market conditions. However, due to economic
considerations, staff is recommending postponing any adjustment
until at least the second quarter of 2003.
COLA. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January – June, 2002 shows
a 2.2% increase over the same period a year ago. As final figures for
2002 will not be received until February, 2003, staff is recommending a
COLA increase of 1.9% for all positions for 2003. The COLA for 2002
was 3.8%.
Merit Pay. Merit Pay is to reward quality service and motivate higher
levels of performance. Staff is recommending a merit pool of 1.1% of
payroll for 2003. The merit pool for 2002 was 1.8%.
The Town Board will officially consider approval of the Pay Plan Proposal
at their meeting November 26, 2002.
Town Board Budget Meeting – November 5, 2002 - Page 3
2. New Employees:
Fire Dept. Secretary Position, from .25 FTE to .75 FTE
Microcomputer Support Specialist
Backflow Prevention Specialist
The Microcomputer Support Specialist position is based on funding for the
last half of 2003.
3. Property Tax Mill Levy.
Consensus was reached to retain the current mill levy of 1.892 mills.
4. Community Services Funding Levels:
Estes Park Housing Authority (EPHA)
Caring Pregnancy Center
Partners of Estes Park
Sam Betters, Director/Estes Park Housing Authority appeared and
distributed a memorandum dated November 5, 2002 that addressed the
Authority’s funding request:
2003 2004
$312,043 $318,113
(Includes $89,100 for tap fees for both years).
Town Board Recommendation:
$277,070 $290,393
(Includes $89,100 for tap fees for both years).
EPHA Revised 2003 and 2004 Budget Request:
$267,493 $276,533
(Pursuant to “phasing” development, includes a reduction of tap
fees from 30 for both years, to 15 in 2003 and 16 in 2004).
Discussion followed, with consensus reached to accept the EPHA funding
request.
Partners. A summary of Trustee comments include: the difficult decision the
Team faced in considering all agency funding requests—is one program more
deserving?; with the EPHA funding reduction, should all funding requests be
funded; funding support should be included for all youth; and Mayor’s
Contingency Fund. Consensus was reached on Partners funding: $5,000 in
2003 and 2004.
Caring Pregnancy Center. Following discussion on the appropriateness of
funding such budget request, consensus was reached not to fund the Caring
Pregnancy Center.
5. Medical Insurance:
Accept reduced benefit coverage with 2.46% premium increase.
Single coverage premium to be split 90% Town, and 10%
employee.
Change from Single and Family premiums, to Single,
Employee/Spouse, Employee/Children and Family premiums.
With the exception of single coverage, premiums will be a
75/25% split.
Accept Option 18 Dental Insurance, with a 7.74% premium
increase.
Town Board Budget Meeting – November 5, 2002 - Page 4
Assess 3% of the premium as an Administrative Charge to the
Library and Sanitation District.
An All Employee Meeting has been held, and it appears employees favor
a 4-tiered approach. Mayor Baudek clarified that the two major changes
are the 90/10 split for single coverage and a tiered approach. Consensus:
was reached for support of the 2003 Health Insurance Proposal.
6. Performing Arts Feasibility Study Funding.
Feasibility Study funding remains in the Community Reinvestment Fund
for 2002, and discussion followed whether said funding should be
retained. Consensus was reached not to spend the funding on this
feasibility study at this time.
There being no further business, Mayor Baudek adjourned the meeting at 9:29 p.m.
Vickie O’Connor, CMC, Town Clerk