Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 08-03-09 special council-budget review — reading text

Friday, July 24, 2009 9: 15 AM To: Mike Anderson Cc: Brandy Wunker; Robert Mearns Subject: RE: City Council' s Budget Mayor —below is the cost/savings information you requested. Recommendation from 7/ 23 email: 1. My recommendation for the budget hearings will be, if the Mayor or Council want the coverage provided by the City plans, they pay the same portion as the Employees. Savings to City: $ 16, 029 Recommendations from 7/ 6 email: 1. Reduce the Mayor's salary by 8 %. Savings to City: $ 441 2. Increase the Travel/ Training to $ 1250 /elected official since the past three years' average has been greater than $ 8000. Cost to City: $ 2000 3. Reinstate the Condolence Flowers expense. Cost to City: $ 850 4. Reinstate the Food for Council Meetings. Cost to City: $ 3500 5. Eliminate our membership to the Florida League of Mayors ( pending the outcome of the August Mayor's meeting in Orlando) and our membership to the National League of Cities. I don' t believe we have received any real return on these memberships. Savings to City: $ 430 FL League of Mayors, $ 1490 Nat' l League of Cities Charlotte Original Message---- - From: Brandy Wunker Sent: Thursday, July 23, 2009 6: 30 PM To: Charlotte Dunworth Subject: Fw: City Council's Budget Can you please take care of this request as I will not be here till Thursday. Brandy Sent from my B1ackBerry® smartphone with Nextel Direct Connect 7/ 24/ 2009  Page 2 of 5 From: " Mike Anderson" Date: Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15: 47: 32 - 0500 To: Brandy Wunker <bwunker@fwb.org> Subject: RE: City Council's Budget Brandy, Will you please cost out each of my recommendations? I' d like to see how much I would be costing /saving the City. Thanks, Mike From: Mike Anderson Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 9: 59 PM To: Brandy Wunker Cc: Robert Mearns; Charlotte Dunworth Subject: RE: City Council' s Budget Brandy, Thanks for the information. My recommendation for the budget hearings will be, if the Mayor or Council want the coverage provided by the City plans, they pay the same portion as the Employees. However, I guess the June 05 Ordinance will be need to be changed, if Council goes along with my recommendation. Mike From: Brandy Wunker Sent: Tue 7/ 7/ 2009 08: 17 PM To: Brandy Wunker; Mike Anderson Cc: Robert Mearns; Charlotte Dunworth Subject: RE: City Council' s Budget I just wanted to clarify my statement below regarding the life insurance premiums —the Employee does not pay any portion of the premiums for the life insurance. They are paid 100% by the City. Thank you, Brandy L. Wunker Finance Director City of Fort Walton Beach 850) 833 -9512 850) 685 -5495 Cell 850) 833 -9640 Fax Original Message---- - From: Brandy Wunker Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 5: 02 PM To: Mike Anderson Cc: Robert Mearns; Charlotte Dunworth Subject: RE: City Council' s Budget The City portion of the premium for medical is $ 4, 554 ( single) & $ 12, 445 (family) —so the employee pays $ 1, 991 ( single) & $ 5, 455 (family). The City portion of the premium for dental is $ 186 ( single) & $ 532 (family) —so the employee 7/ 24/ 2009 - 12-  Page 3 of 5 pays $ 61 ( single) & $ 176 (family). The City does not pay any portion of the life insurance premiums. Let me know if you need additional information. Thank you, Brandy L. Wunker Finance Director City of Fort Walton Beach 850) 833 -9512 850) 685 -5495 Cell 850) 833 -9640 Fax Original Message---- - From: Mike Anderson Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 3: 29 PM To: Brandy Wunker Cc: Robert Mearns; Charlotte Dunworth Subject: RE: City Council' s Budget Brandy, Thank you for the prompt reply. One more question - don't the non -elected, City employees have to pay for part of their insurance coverage? If so, how much? Mike From: Brandy Wunker Sent: Tue 7/ 7/ 2009 10: 27 AM To: Mike Anderson Cc: Robert Mearns; Charlotte Dunworth Subject: FW: City Council' s Budget Mayor, Please find the answers to your questions below. Please let me know if you have additional questions or need further information. Thank you, Brandy L. Wunker Finance Director City of Fort Walton Beach 850) 833 -9512 850) 685 -5495 Cell 850) 833 -9640 Fax Original Message---- - From: Robert Mearns Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 12: 49 PM To: Brandy Wunker 13- 7/ 24/ 2009 -  Page 4 of 5 Cc: Charlotte Dunworth Subject: FW: City Council' s Budget Please respond to the Mayor' s questions. Thanks. Robert T. Mearns City Manager City ofFt. Walton Beach 850 -833 -9504 850 -833 -9640 (Fax) From: Mike Anderson Sent: Monday, July 06, 2009 12: 46 PM To: Robert Mearns Cc: Brandy Wunker; Charlotte Dunworth Subject: RE: City Council' s Budget I have some questions and some recommendations on the City Council budget. Questions first: 1. What does the expense for appraisals entail? This budgeted amount would be used if the City decided to pursue the purchase of property during the year. Instead of budgeting for an amount that may not be used, staff will bring forward a recommendation to pursue the potential purchase to CC and request a budget amendment to fund the appraisal at that time. 2. Who is the phone line for? Mayor' s office. 3. Why is there an annual expense for Roberts Rules of Order andSunshine Manuals? Helen provides these books to members of committees and boards throughout the City. 4. Although the insurance expense is 21 % less than last year, it is 50% greater than the previous three years. Is there any Family coverage in the Dental, Life & Health insurance expense? What are the costs for each type of coverage, per individual and per family? Why isn' t some of the cost for the various insurance coverages deducted from our pay? Due to HIPPA, I am unable to address the type of coverage that individual City Council members have. I can tell you the costs of the insurance: Life Insurance $ 64, Dental 247 (single) & $ 708 ( family), Health $ 6545 ( single) & $ 17,900 (family). Per Ordinance 1644 adopted in June 2005, the City is responsible for 100% of the premiums associated with City Council and Mayor insurance. Recommendations: 1. Reduce the Mayor's salary by 8 %. 2. Increase the Travel/ Training to $ 1250 /elected official since the past three years' average has been greater than $ 8000. 3. Reinstate the Condolence Flowers expense. 4. Reinstate the Food for Council Meetings. 5. Eliminate our membership to the Florida League of Mayors ( pending the outcome of the August Mayor's meeting in Orlando) and our membership to the National League of Cities. I don' t believe we have received any real return on these memberships. Regards, Mike 7/ 24/ 2009 - 14-  Page 5 of 5 From: Robert Mearns Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 4: 53 PM To: City Council Cc: Helen Spencer Subject: FW: City Council's Budget Attached is the proposed FY 2010 City Council budget. It was prepared by Finance with input from the City Clerk' s office and the city manager. You will notice that this budget contains a decrease of 15. 88 %, or $76, 167 compared with last years line items, which is reflected in nearly every line item based on cuts in non -essentials. Eliminations most noticeable are an elimination of: Appraisals and Strategic Plan - $ 10, 000. ( If any are necessary funds for appraisals can be appropriated on an as- needed basis); Condolence flowers - $ 850; Food for Council Meetings - $ 3, 500; and the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance - $ 11, 250. The greatest differences in budgeted items between last year and this is the elimination of election expense - $ 15, 000; reduction in grants -in aid to the Chamber of Commerce - $ 19, 000 and the EDC - $4,442; less expensive PAWS contract - $ 7, 734; and a reduction in legal costs - $ 11, 000. The Fireworks - 20, 000 and other Special Events - $ 1, 000 was moved from the Clerk' s office to Council' s budget for cost center purposes. All other elements remain at the same funding levels as last year. Robert T. Mearns City Manager City ofFt. Walton Beach 850 -833 -9504 850 -833 -9640 ( Fax) From: Brandy Wunker Sent: Monday, June 22, 2009 12: 12 PM To: Robert Mearns Subject: City Council Budget Bob, I have attached a copy of the City Council ( Department 100) budget, in case you want to forward this to City Council for their review and information prior to the July publication of the budget