Minutes of The Special Price City Council Meeting

City Hall: Price, Utah

May 30, 2006, 8:00 a.m.

 

Present:

Mayor Joe L. Piccolo                                       Joanne Lessar, City Recorder

Councilmembers:                                              Pat Larsen, Finance Director

     Richard Tatton                                             Gary Sonntag, Public Works Director/City Engineer

     Jeanne McEvoy                                           John Daniels, Human Resource Director

     Kathy Hanna-Smith                         Bret Cammans, Customer Service Director

     Jeff Nielson                                     Aleck Shilaos, Chief of Police

     Rick Davis

 

Others Present:

     Lisa Richens

 

 1.        BUDGET WORKSHOP - Fiscal Year 2006-2007

 

Pat Larsen reported that the budget was still out of balance by $250,000.  An amount of $100,000 was transferred from the Water Fund.  An amount of $50,000 was taken out of the Capital Improvement Fund.  Different ways to increase revenues were discussed, such as raising building permit fees.  The report from the Building Department is that we are currently 3-4% above Carbon County rates.  Discussion centered around asking Carbon County to assist in the financial operation of the library, swimming pool, and the Fire Department.  Currently the budget for the Fire Department is $413,000, the library is $325,000, and the pool is $465,000.  Pat Larsen suggested asking the County for half of those funds to operate those departments.  She indicated that we either have to find revenue sources or decrease services. Staff is in the process of reviewing City property to determine if anything could be declared surplus and sold.  The benefit for retirees was reviewed.  It was recommended that this be decreased from $295/month per retiree to $195/month per retiree.  If retirees want the high option plan, they would have to pay the difference.  A letter will be sent to all retirees informing them of this action.  It was also recommended that department heads be asked to purchase only essential items between now and the end of this fiscal year.  The request for additional help in the Building Department was deleted. 

 

Bret Cammans suggested increasing library card and literacy program fees in the library to increase revenue by $30,000, and increase swimming pool passes to increase revenue by $10,000.  He suggested decreasing a Capital Project item (swimming pool pavilion) from $20,000 to $10,000.  An amount of $20,000 will be remain for this project as the public has been requesting additional shaded areas.   He will contact Questar Gas Company for assistance on the utility bill for the swimming pool.  He also recommended reducing the Wireless Lan System.  The concept of approaching the Carbon County Special Service District Recreation fund for financial assistance in the library, the pool, and the purchase of a brush truck for the Fire Department was discussed.  Increasing


May 30, 2006

 

participation from the school district and the college for swimming fees was discussed.  Another suggestion was to increase the fees for Police Department  reports to $15 and increase rental fees for animal traps.  Another suggestion was to move the Main Street improvements to the next fiscal year.

 

A property tax and sales tax increase was discussed.  Implementing a 1/10 % ZAP (zoo , arts, parks) sales tax would assist in the utility bill for the swimming pool.  It was suggested that we go forward with the ZAP tax.

 

It was recommended that the proposed property tax increase not be implemented, and that additional funds to balance the budget be transferred out of the Electric and Water funds.  If at a future date, the County is not willing to assist in the financial operation of the swimming pool, library and Fire Department, it may be necessary to ask the citizens for a property tax increase.

 

The following changes were made to balance the budget.

 

Transient Room tax increased $5,000

International Days Misc. Revenue increased $3,000

Department Expenditure Cuts (Fund Balance) $100,000

Medicare Supplement Insurance decreased $14,000

Emergency Preparedness decrease $4,000

Increase in library revenue $30,000

Increase in pool revenues $10,000

Brush Truck (100% grant) $75,000

Downtown Capital Improvements moved to next fiscal year $50,000

Telephone Maintenance decreased $1,000

Wireless Lan System decreased $3,000

 

It was recommended that a Public Hearing be held on June 14th to adopt the budget for Fiscal Year 2006-2007.

 

Meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m.

APPROVED:

 

 

 

                                             

ATTEST:                                                         Joe L. Piccolo, Mayor

 

 

                                                

Joanne Lessar, City Recorder