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2014 proposed 4,272,439 4,458,634 These revised budget figures are much different than what the Council reviewed in August/September. The TCAAP departmental budget being in the general fund will continue to cause challenges in making year-to-year comparisons because the City expects to start receiving some TCAAP development related revenues starting in about 2016 to repay the PIR loan. Plus, the City may incur some consulting planning expenses for TCAAP that would be accounted for and passed through to the JDA. Budget Review and Options The good news with the TCAAP budget organizational and accounting change is that it does not have any impact on the City tax levy. The proposed $97,797 tax levy increase in this November budget proposal is the same as what the Council reviewed in August/September. The increase in the public safety contracts is now at $52,130. This is about 53% of the tax levy increase. The balance of the tax levy increase is $45,667. When the Council discusses budget reductions at the work session, it would make sense if you think about budget changes relative to the tax levy change from 2013 to 2014. Personnel Changes Wage adjustments for the employees can always be considered but the impact is somewhat minor with each .5% equaling about $1,750 in general fund expenses. However, there are three personnel issues that the Council will need to decide and each has a different impact on the proposed and future budgets. These three issues are the Engineering Intern, the Planning Intern, and the part time Finance position. All three requests relate to the amount and type of work that can be accomplished. The Planning Intern request has a $16,730 impact on the general fund budget (and therefore the tax levy). The request is for a full time intern as compared to the part time intern that has been included in previous budgets. If approved, our current Intern, Matthew Bachler, would work full time in 2014. Because of the length of his employment with the City, PERA is in effect, but not health insurance or holiday or PTO benefits. Given the increasing work load in planning, economic development, and community development, the Council may want to consider reestablishing the Planner I position that was in the budget a few years ago. On the other hand, if the Council does not approve the Intern position going from part time to full time, then you can save $16,730 in the proposed budget but how much work gets done in planning, economic development and communi th City will end on June 30. The Finance part time position has very little impact on the general fund budget as this position is compared to three interns that have been in previous Finance departmental budgets. However, this request does amount to a regular part time staffing increase. Sue provided information in support of this personnel change during the August budget work session and the request is related to work productivity.