Mijnutes: Finance Committe; August 2010

City of Evansville
Finance & Labor Relations Committee

Regular Meeting
Thursday, August 5, 2010, 5:45 pm
City Hall, 31 S. Madison St., Evansville, Wisconsin

MINUTES

I. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 5:45 pm by Chair Mason Braunschweig. Present: Alderpersons Mason Braunschweig, Jim Brooks and Diane Roberts. Also present: Mayor Sandy Decker, Finance Director Lisa Novinska, City Administrator Dan Wietecha, and Library Director Kathi Kemp.

II. Approve Agenda. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Brooks, to approve the agenda. Motion approved 3-0.

III. Minutes of July 8, 2010. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Brooks, to waive the reading of and to approve the minutes as presented. Motion approved 3-0.

IV. Citizen Appearances. None.

V. Water & Light Bills. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to accept the Water & Light bills in the amount of $670,692.09. Motion approved 3-0 on a roll call vote.

VI. City Bills. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Brooks, to accept the City bills in the amount of $725,803.27. Motion approved 3-0 on a roll call vote.

VII. Unfinished Business:
a. Purchasing Policy. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Brooks, to recommend to Common Council approval of the Purchasing Policy. Motion approved 3-0.

VIII. New Business:
a. Finance Department Budget. Novinska reviewed her budget proposal for the finance department operations. It reflects a 4.9% decrease from 2010. The Committee noted that a reduction in 2011 election expenses would be temporary, as there would be a presidential election the following year.

b. 2011 Budget Discussion.
i. Strategic Financing. Wietecha distributed a memo to give context to thinking about the budget. Budget decisions should focus on essential services, have a long-range perspective, and remember that taxpayer dollars are footing the bill.

ii. Shared Revenues. The Committee noted that intergovernmental revenues comprise about a third of the city’s general operations. With the state facing a $2.5 billion structural deficit, there is a very real risk that shared revenues will be reduced drastically.

iii. Debt Service. Wietecha explained that debt service payments with general obligation backing would increase some $350,000 next year. Most of the increase is for projects supported by tax incremental financing or utility revenues; however, about $75,000 will require an increase in the tax levy.

iv. Fund 80. Wietecha said that several discussions had been held with School District staff and board recently about creating a Fund 80, Community Service Fund. Fund 80 could be used to finance community education, recreational, and cultural programs such as operation of the youth center. The School District will likely consider creating and funding Fund 80 at its upcoming annual meeting.

c. Personal Property Taxes. Roberts made a motion, seconded by Brooks, to approve the write-off of uncollectible personal property taxes. Novinska explained this was largely a housekeeping measure for several past billing errors. Motion approved 3-0 on a roll call vote.

d. Creekside Place. Wietecha noted there would be a typical development agreement to make sure Creekside Place would be responsible for all regulatory requirements with the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).

IX. Adjournment. Brooks made a motion, seconded by Roberts, to adjourn the meeting. Motion approved 3-0 at 6:45 pm.