COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MINUTES - 10/3/2002
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – CITY OF MUSKEGO (Approved)
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD October 3, 2002
Mayor Slocomb called the meeting to order at 7:17 PM. Also present were Ald.
Salentine, Petfalski, Madden, Damaske, LeDoux, and Patterson, Finance Director Dawn
Gunderson, and those per the attached list. Ald. Sanders was excused.
All in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mayor Slocomb noted the meeting was noticed in accordance with the Open Meeting
Law.
Minutes of the August 22, September 5, September 12, September 19, and September
26, 2002 Committee of the Whole meetings were not available for approval.
Unfinished Business
1. Review 2003 Capital Budget
a. Mayor - New Maintenance Van - The Mayor reported that the requested
$17,000 was a quote that was received a year ago. A new quote was received
today for $15,986. The vehicle will be used by two people in the City’s
maintenance department. The full-time maintenance person puts approximately
3,200 miles on his personal vehicle per year. The Mayor advised that he felt the
Police Expedition that is up for replacement would work for the anticipated use of
the maintenance staff. The vehicle would provide 4 years in this capacity. The
Committee agreed that the Expedition would be a good alternative to purchasing
a new vehicle.
2. Continue discussion of 2003 Operating Budget – After the discussion regarding
capital, the Finance Director asked if there were any other issues relating to the
operating budget. A question regarding the additional training money for the Muskego
Fire Company was brought up, but the Committee chose to leave the funds in the
budget.
New Business
1. Review 2003 Special Revenue – The Finance Director distributed the packet of
information for the Special Revenue funds. For the benefit of the new members to the
Committee, she explained the function of a special revenue fund and the type of
revenues that support special revenue funds. Each fund was reviewed with the
committee with an explanation of the fund’s purpose, its revenue sources and
expenditures. More detailed discussion took place on the relationships of the landfill
fund to other special revenue funds, including parks, conservation and open space, well
protection fund, the stormwater fund and uncompensated absences fund. The use of
landfill funds for support to the capital expenditures was also discussed. The Priority
Lakes fund will no longer have grant funds available in the future, so the fund will be
spent down over the next few years and then moved into the general fund. The Urban
Forestry fund did not have a budget for 2003 due to the elimination of future grant
funding. This program was moved into the General Fund Planning Department budget.
The Committee took a short break at 8:55 p.m. and reconvened at 9:10 p.m.
Committee of the Whole Page 2
Minutes of Meeting Held 10/03/02
The Committee continued their discussion on the Capital Budget following the break
based upon its impact on the future debt service levy. Finance Director Gunderson
distributed the Finance Debt Policy to review the approved limits that were established
for debt levy rates. The capital items as presented from the department’s requests,
create borrowing needs in 2003 of $8,672,588. This borrowing would create no impact
on our 2003 levy, but would create a $2.5 million levy by 2006 up from the $1.5 million
in 2003. The debt policies were reviewed and the tax rate should be below 1.25 to 1.50
per equalized value. The debt tax rate for 2003 is projected at $.92 per thousand; the
2004 would be $1.46 per thousand. That would be with the $8.7 million borrowing and
no additional borrowings. The additional million dollars in levy would be before looking
at operating increases for 2004. The five-year plan shows additional need to borrow in
2004 and 2005. The Finance Director pointed out that the 2003 Capital Budget, when
the five year plan was adopted in early 2002, was $9,041,000 and now the 2003 budget
was presented at $11,400,000. Typically the first two years of a five-year plan remain
fairly consistent. Several items were added to the five-year plan for 2003 since the
original plan was adopted. Discussion took place regarding the Tess Corners pond
stormwater management project that will be funded partially with borrowing, partially
with grant funds and partially with funds from New Berlin. The Mayor advised that more
information would be available regarding New Berlin’s commitment to this project
following a meeting with them on Monday. The committee held discussion regarding
the use of landfill funds for capital purchases and agreed that there should be an effort
made to get away from the use of these funds for capital items and put more emphasis
on quality of life issues. Based upon the anticipated borrowing projections, the
committee reviewed specific items in the Capital Budget and asked to see the revised
numbers with timing adjustments. The Mayor advised that the following items be
considered for adjustment and delays: the replacement of radios to meet the 800 mhz
system requirements, find out answers to funding needs for Tess Corners Pond and
timing of grants, moving Durham Drive out to a future year, utilizing Conservation Funds
for the Ewald-Engel property purchase, Idle Isle remodeling and looking at Martin
Property purchase. The Committee asked that costs for burying Utility lines be
incorporated into the plan and also dollars for the athletic field project that is being
discussed with the school district. Revised capital numbers will be presented at the
next meeting based upon this discussion along with revised tax levy and rate impacts.
Communications and Miscellaneous Business as Authorized by Law - None
Adjournment
Ald. Patterson moved to adjourn at 10:40 PM. Ald. Petfalski seconded; motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Dawn R. Gunderson, CPFO
Finance Director