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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04/14/2015 Study Session Minutespow N.. �F MARANA 7 STUDY SESSION MINUTES 11555 W. Civic Center Drive, Marana, Arizona 85653 Council Chambers, April 14, 2015, at or after 6:00 PM Ed Honea, Mayor Jon Post, Vice Mayor David Bowen, Council Member Patti Comerford, Council Member Herb Kai, Council Member Carol McGorray, Council Member Roxanne Ziegler, Council Member STUDY SESSION CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL. Mayor Honea called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. Town Clerk Bronson called roll. All Council Members were present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE/INVOCATION/MOMENT OF SILENCE. Led by Mayor I APPROVAL OF AGENDA. Motion to aplarove the agenda by Council Me- umber Bowen, second by Vice Mayor .Post. Passed unanimously. CALL TO THE PUBLIC. There were no speaker cards presented. DISCUSSION/DIRECTION/POSSIBLE ACTION D I Relating to Budget; review, discussion, consideration, and direction to staff regarding the fiscal year 20 15 -2016 Manager's recommended operating budgets for the general Fund, Water Operating Fund, Wastewater Operating; Fund and the Airport Operating Fund (Gilbert Davidson and Erik Montague). Gilbert Davidson led with a preliminary overview, noting that no decision needs to be made other than possible direction on any of the things highlighted during the presentation. He will be discussing the investment plan after Erik Montague provides the revenue outlook for FY 2016. Erik Montague then gave an overview of the Arizona economy and revenue forecast, noting that the figures are provided by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, who provides the April 14, 2015 Study Session Minutes 1 forecasts for the state. There is reduced revenue growth; it's still growing but not as quickly as initially expected. This naturally causes impacts on cities and towns. Relating to the most recent numbers for the baseline budget for 2015, 2016 and 2017, they are projecting that they will have a surplus of just over $12M. The way that the budget is being balanced is by tapping into rainy day fund, which was accumulated in earlier years, by about $70M. For FY 2016, there is a minor surplus of about $33M, and a $15M deficit forecast for FY 2017. These numbers are level or flat. With regard to the overall U.S. economy, consumer confidence is about 23.1% higher year over year, but was reduced by about 7.1 % from January to February which was off of the post - recession high. There is not a lot of inflation pressure on the Western Consumer Price Index. He also talked about numbers for unemployment for Arizona, Tucson and Marana, with Arizona overall at about 6.2% and Marana at about 4.3%. Housing prices are about 2% higher year over year, with the median home price in Tucson at about $160K. He continued with the revenue numbers for sales taxes. Retail, hotels and restaurant sales are up, while all other are slightly under. There is one important change underway — the impact of the Arizona DOR Business Class Code System. A greater level of detail will be required about what the businesses are actually reporting, and we will be required to refine how we do our projections. We can still do comparisons under the old structure, but we'll be budgeting from the new level which will be helpful to shaping the budgets in the future. With respect to Shared Revenues, historically, Mr. Montague stated that he has been very conservative. It is still increasing but significantly less than what we might have seen in the past. Shared sales tax and auto lieu are up while urban revenue is down. Licenses, Fees and permits are the third largest category for us. For the current year we budgeted 600 building permits; we're at about 459. The Aerie development is large but has a lower permit value. Finance works closely with the development group to come up with this number. Five hundred fifty permits are reasonable for 2016, thus, revenues will go down by a little over $225K, but there are significant increases in commercial development. Mir. Davidson then talked about the investment plan and what's available. Recommended this year is a two -part approach to compensation for market and merit adjustments up to 4 %. This will also be based on what other municipalities are implementing for class and compensation. He reviewed other pay and benefits for health, retirement, disability insurance. Last year the town went to a self-funded model, and there have not been major impacts to that fund, so the numbers for public safety retirement and health and dental have not had a huge negative impact. Combined with those numbers are training and development for employees for a total employee investment of $1,312,170 from the general fund. Departments are also going through a process to identify all the critical items related back to the strategic plan. From the general fund, vehicle replacements of $556,100; $201,500 for technology, include Council chambers replacements, police fingerprint machine and police mobile data terminals; maintenance projects for $423,900 and shared use path preservation, Phase 11 for $135K, and park utility vehicles, push mowers, trimmers and other items for $126,205. The total investment from the general fund will be $1,661,040. April 14, 2015 Study Session Minutes 2 Next he discussed the FY 2016 selected strategic position investments which have a total general fund expenditure of $554,785. Erik Montague then completed the presentation with the overall financial summary starting with the general fund revenues, expenditures, estimating about 5.4% increase from what was budgeted in the current year to next year. Total expenditures increased 5.8 %. With operating transfers we issued debt, and as a source of repayment we pledged revenues from excise sales tax. The numbers presented exclude the contingency fund, which currently sits at $5M, and we're not sure what that number will look like in 2016. He then presented the operating budget impact on reserves within the general fund. He noted that several years ago Council established a threshold reserve policy to be 25% of expenditures Since the most recent low at 2008 -09, we have been adding back modestly ever since. Reserves are a onetime resource to provide for overall cash needs, provide for major and/or unanticipated events and to help preserve the town's overall credit rating. Possible use of reserves of about $3.9M could be for pavement preservation, Ora Mae Harn Park ball field and parking improvements and the downtown sewer conveyance. These are all being recommended to come out of the reserve account for the next fiscal year. He asked for feedback or questions related to reserve projects. In response to a question from Council Member Ziegler regarding whether Council should be making recommendations on the projects, Mr. Davidson responded that these are items for Council to decide upon. Next, Mr. Montague continued with the enterprise funds, beginning with the water operating fund. We have about 6200 utility accounts and are anticipating about a 6.9% change or $300K. Most of that is coming from water fees or sales of water to customers on our system. The rates anticipated for FY 2015-16 takes into account a rate increase already approved which will go into effect in January 2016 and January 2017. Next, he discussed the wastewater operating fund. Since the town obtained the system in 2012, modest increases have occurred. We intend to maintain some parity with Pima County's rate. We are anticipating about a 12.3% change or $104.3K, most of which will come from adjusted calculations in additional sewer fees of about 12 %. On the expense side, we are maintaining the status quo other than some compensation adjustments previously discussed. There are some increases on the operating supplies, equipment and contracted services. Regarding the airport operating fund, the revenues have been fairly stable. With most of the revenues being generated, we are obligated through pre - existing leases or agreements and don't have a lot of additional capacity to generate a lot more revenues currently. There was a recent fuel flowage fee adjustment which is to get it on par to similar airports, and that will add additional revenue at the airport. There is a small change from FY 2015, about 3.2% or BIB. It's a small number but very important. one of our challenges to reflect that revenues meet the obligations. Right now they are not. There are a number of areas where additional resources could be deployed, but he will need people, equipment and other support services to help maintain the airport at the level is required. There is an operating deficiency of about $110K and will require some support from the general fund. April 14, 2015 Study Session Minutes 3 The tentative bud and adoption of the chan to the comprehensive fee schedule will be brou to Council for consideration on Ma 19. On June 16, Council will consider the adoption of the final bud Mr. Monta responded to q uestions from Council Member Bowen re the $212K for an additional pa on the public safet retirement and to Council Member Zie with respect to g ettin g the airport to becomin a real enterprise fund without support from the g eneral fund. Mr. Davidson also noted that when the town ac the airport from the Count there were some leases that we were obli to pa All attempts are bein made to make this a self- sustainin airport. While we are doin that we do have obli to make sure the airport is well-maintained and have the ri staff to do that. But it will take time to g et the ri pieces in place. Staff will be finalizin this process. If Council wants to meet one on one, staff is available. Motion to direct staf to continue movin forward on the bud as presented toni b Vice Ma Post, second b Council Member McGorra Passed unanimousl EXECUTIVE SESSIONS Pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-431.03, the Town Council ma vote to g o into executive session, which will not be open to the public, to discuss certain matters. Executive Session pursuant to A.R.S. §38-431.03 (A)(3), Council ma ask for discussion or consultation for le advice with the Town Attorne concernin an matter listed on this a FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Notwithstandin the ma discretion re the items to be placed on the a if three or more Council members re that an item be placed on the a it must be placed on the a for the second re Town Council meetin after the date of the re pursuant to Marana Town Code Section 2-4-2(B). ADJOURNMENT. Motion to adjourn at 7:10 p.m. b Vice Ma Post, second b Council Member Bowen. Passed unanimousl I hereb certif that the fore are the true and correct minutes of the stud session of the Marana Town Council meetin held on April 14, 2015. 1 further certif that a q uorum was present. AO %N N J cel C. ronson, Town Clerk I NA April 14, 2015 Stud Session Minutes 4