COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE Minutes - 9/18/2014
Approved
CITY OF MUSKEGO
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES
September 18, 2014
6:00 PM
City Hall, W182 S8200 Racine Avenue
CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Chiaverotti called the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
ROLL CALL
Present were Aldermen Madden, Kubacki, Engelhardt, Di Pronio, Borgman, Hammel and
Wolfe. Also present were Director of Finance and Administration Mueller and Deputy Clerk
Blenski.
STATEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICE
The Deputy stated that the meeting was noticed in accordance with the Open Meeting Law.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
There were no issues with the agenda.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES - 8/21/2014, 8/26/2014 & 9/09/2014
Alderman Engelhardt made a motion to approve the August 21, 2014, August 26, 2014
and September 9, 2014 minutes. Alderman Kubacki seconded.
Motion Passed 7 in favor.
NEW BUSINESS
Capital Fund Budgets - Expenditures & Borrowing (continued discussion)
Mayor Chiaverotti stated there were a few Capital items to finalize. She noted that the
Committee allocated $15,000 for the Police Department HVAC. The Chief received a quote for
less, but she recommends that the $15,000 remain in the budget.
DPW -Skidster
The City Engineer is requesting that the Committee budget $70,000 for a skidster. He has not
had an opportunity to research if the equipment is needed and the cost. Prior to purchasing,
he will come back to the Committee even if it is under the $50,000 threshold. The equipment
would be used to clear the sections of sidewalks on Janesville and Pioneer that are City-
owned as well as the recreational trails.
Consensus: 7 in favor
The Committee also unanimously was in favor of adopting an ordinance that required property
owners to clear the sidewalks that abut their properties.
Facilities Study
The Mayor stated that a new Police Department building has been in the 5-year capital plan. It
is scheduled to be done in 2017. The Committee unanimously agreed to maintain the campus
arrangement for the Police Department and City Hall facilities. The discussion about facilities
will be discussed in the future after the budget process.
Overview of 2015 Proposed Operating Budget
The Mayor presented her comments regarding the 2015 proposed operating budget:
“Based on the agreed upon Common Council budget goals, the Department Heads and I were
able to prepare a balanced 2015 budget staying within the mandated net new growth levy
increase. The tax rate is proposed with a slight reduction from the 2014 budget. After the
advice and consent of the Council, measures to aid in a balanced budget include contracting
the Assessor service along with the consolidation of the parks maintenance with the
Department of Public Works. Also aiding the balanced budget is the reduction in WRS
contributions and minimal increase to the City’s health care premium. The health care
premium increase is credited to the National Health Care Act Fees. Employees continue
contributing to health care benefits. Recognizing and respecting the expertise of incumbent
employees is a budget goal. In addition to step increases for new hires and progression within
the merit pay program for managerial and specialist staff, this budget reflects a wage increase
up to 3% for non-represented employees. Due to compression issues and market
comparisons, the budget also reflects a 1% cost of living increase for represented police
personnel. Employee pay increases averaged 1% per year from 2011 – 2014 while
contributing more to WRS and health care benefits and it is time to recognize their efforts.
This is the second consecutive year of utilizing the merit pay program in lieu of automatic cost
of living increases.
The State requirement to hold the City of Muskego tax levy increase to net new growth is 1.1%
for the 2015 budget. A portion, .95%, of new growth is being utilized. Through utilizing
contracted services and shifting of parks maintenance responsibilities, we are able to absorb
the Council authorized budgeted additions of park maintenance for Park Arthur, recreation trail
maintenance and a new position in the Public Works Department allowing for servicing police
vehicle maintenance in-house for additional long-term savings.
This budget stays within the state imposed levy limit without reducing services that are
important to the citizens. Additionally, this is the second consecutive budget proposal that
does not use prior years’ surplus. Per agreed upon budget goals, Council should consider
reserving prior years’ surplus for future facilities needs or capital investments.”
Goals
Budget Goals for 2015:
Apply Net New Growth as Allowed per State Levy Limit to Maintain and Enhance
Services for a Growing Community
Maintain High Bond Rating
Limit One-Time Funding Sources
Avoid Depletion of Special Revenue Funds and Utilize for the Purpose Created
Support Economic Drivers to Ensure Long-term Viability, Including TID Creations and
Incentives
Strengthen Efficiencies
Recognize and Respect the Expertise of Incumbent Employees
Abide by General Operation Fund Balance Policy
Support Budget Category Goals
Significant Changes from the 2014 to the 2015
Revenues
The proposed 2015 general fund revenue budget is $212,605 or 1.48% compared to the 2014
level of $14,389,739. The primary reasons for the change are the projected increase in
building permits and license issuance, additional revenue generated from court fines and
forfeitures and application of net new growth as allowed per the State levy limit to maintain and
enhance services for a growing community.
Expenditures
The proposed 2015 general fund expenditure budget is in balance with the proposed revenue
budget, resulting in a 1.48% increase over 2014. Again, the increase in budget categories
reflects additional costs resulting from maintenance of the newly created Park Arthur,
trail/sidewalk maintenance, the newly created position in DPW allowing for in-house police
vehicle maintenance as a cost saving measure and public safety expenses to maintain a high
ranking of one of the safest cities in Wisconsin per “Safewise.” Additional inflationary costs
include utilities and a slight increase in health care premiums.
Contributing to expenditure reductions is the decrease in City contributions to the WRS
program, contracting the assessment services, transitioning the parks maintenance and
planning to the Department of Public Works and Community Development Department and
merging two clerical positions in the Finance and Administration Department.
Also to be noted is Transportation Aid estimates have not yet been provided and are subject to
change for this year as well as future years. As recommended by the Department of
Transportation, a conservative amount is reflected in the budget, which reduced revenues by
$68,600.
Mayor Chiaverotti reiterated that the proposed tax rate of $4.90 reflected a slight decrease
from last year. Discussion regarding the budget will continue at the September 23 meeting.
COMMUNICATIONS AND MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW
ADJOURNMENT
Alderman Kubacki made a motion to adjourn at 7:02 p.m. Alderman Hammel
seconded.
Motion Passed 7 in favor.
Minutes taken and transcribed by Jill Blenski, Deputy Clerk