Laserfiche WebLink
Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday, December 2, 2013 <br /> Page 9 <br /> Employee Compensation Market Study/Adjustment <br /> Mr. Miller advised that he had responded to Mr. Grefenberg's request for identity <br /> of those six staff positions identified to receive a market compensation adjust- <br /> ment, by position, not by individual. Mr. Miller advised that historically, the City <br /> had not shared individual employees by name, but what a position paid, and his <br /> response had been consistent with past practice. <br /> Mayor Roe clarified that in Mr. Miller's e-mail response to Mr. Grefenberg, it had <br /> shown 3-4 positions increased in the $1,500 range; several in the $800 range; and <br /> one position found considerably less than the market and rose significantly more <br /> than that accordingly. <br /> Mr. Miller concurred, noting that the market wage adjustments ranged from a half <br /> percent to 2.5%. <br /> Mayor Roe offered additional information if requested by the public. <br /> Applying Reserve Funds to Reduce the Levy <br /> Mr. Miller advised that the initial figures were provided as part of the City Man- <br /> ager-recommended budget in August of 2013; and based on City Council discus- <br /> sions and indications of where their comfort level was regarding levy increases <br /> and additional programming impacts being funded by cash reserves. Mr. Miller <br /> clarified that those original reserves had been identified at $430,000, and after fur- <br /> ther adjustments as the year and discussions progressed, that had been reduced to <br /> $317,000 in cash reserves proposed to fund the 2014 budget. Specific to Mr. Gre- <br /> fenberg's questions as to whether that additional $100,000 could be used to offset <br /> those levy impacts, Mr. Miller responded affirmatively, that the City Council had <br /> the authority to spend reserves at a greater pace than proposed by staff. However, <br /> Mr. Miller noted that there would eventually come a day of reckoning, and he <br /> could not recommend continued use of reserves for operating expenses, but would <br /> continue to advise the City Council to maintain a structurally-balanced budget for <br /> the long-term health of the City and its residents. <br /> Mayor Roe noted that the only legal restriction for the City Council was that it <br /> could not increase its levy beyond the preliminary levy set in September except in <br /> limited circumstances or emergency situations. <br /> Mr. Miller concurred, noting however, that the City Council also had the authority <br /> and discretion to amend its budget at any time during the year. <br /> Comments <br /> Jim Mulder, 1880 Shady Beach Road <br /> Mr. Mulder encouraged the City Council to look at its budget structure; opining <br /> that it did not create a new base when sales tax was eliminated, and should have <br /> done so. Mr. Mulder further opined that, now that base was higher serving to <br />