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ARDEN HILLS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION—OCTOBER 13, 2014 5 previous memos from staff), discussion on preliminary levy and budget, and the City's levy history and excess fund balance over the fund balance policy for comparison purposes. Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson explained that staff prepared detailed budget books for the Council for the September 22, 2014, work session. In response to Council requests for additional information at this work session, the following has also been provided in the staff memo: 1. Councilmember McClung's request for the dollar amount associated with the amount in the fund balance policy over 50% 2. Exact numbers on the insurance and benefit amounts, and the plans as currently offered according to the City's personnel policy(2014 Summaries) 3. Finance and Administrative Services duties, responsibilities, and workload. 4. Breakdown of the amount of increase in the 2015 proposed budget as a result of: a. COLA b. Step increases c. Benefits Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson stated that Staff is presenting a Preliminary General Fund levy increase of 5.0%per Council direction on September 22. Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson indicated that the 2015 preliminary budget has been prepared assuming a 2% wage adjustment for non-union staff and a 1.5% wage adjustment for union staff. In surveying surrounding communities most have included a 1.5% - 3.0% COLA increase in their preliminary estimates. The current proposed budget impacts for the General Fund are as follows: a. COLA $18,516 b. Step Increases $2,651 C. Benefits (includes dental, PERA, and payroll taxes. No increase in medical) $4,611 Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson explained that the results from the City Council authorized market and pay equity study should be available before the Council approves the final budget. The City's consultant has given staff a date of November 17th for providing the preliminary data. Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson stated that in November of 2010, the Council reorganized Finance and Administration into one department called Finance and Administrative Services and added the Finance Analyst position. This was done to allow additional capacity for the City Administrator to delegate duties to the Finance Director and to reduce the amount of backlog created in the Finance department each time a new intern came onboard. The Personnel Committee reviewed this proposal and recommended it to the City Council.