BUDGET Compliance With Levy Limits

You are the next contestant on The Price is not Right Cost Controls from Madison have caused major problems by not allowing Municipalities flexibility to deliver services.

Target to meet levy restraint $370,515

Budget allocation Expenditures $21,664,752 Wage and Fringe 13,741, % Health Insurance 3,079, % Gas and Oil 503, % Utility fire protection 471, % water, gas electric 966, % _____ 86.6% Vehicle and Equipment 1,132, % %

2008 Starting Cost Controls * Expenditure Restraint Program (ERP) estimated maximum $892,416 * 4.2% Bottom Line Levy Limits estimated maximum $370,515 * 3.86%

Looking ahead to the 2009 Budget Estimated fixed cost increase Wage and Fringe 3% 412,250 Health Insurance 12 % 369,578 Utility 10% 96,686 Gas and Oil 5% 25, , % bottom line levy 299, minimum reduction $604,602 Between 2008 &2009 nearly $1,000,000 in operational reductions

Are these budget problems something new? The problems started with the bottom line levy controls. The past three years there was a return of funds from the close out of the TIF Districts. This enabled the City to maintain personnel and programs for a longer period of time. Those funds have been fully allocated to the budget. That money is gone.

Why the cuts in 2008 ? Prior year(s) one time funds were used to artificially reduce the bottom line so that cuts would not need to be made. Return of funds when TID District 1 & 3 were closed.

2006 General Fund Reserve $550,579 Room Tax $100,000 Telecommunications $ 73, $724,238

2007 General Fund Reserve $800,000 Room Tax $100,000 Telecommunications $ 73, $973,479

Proposed 2008 General Fund Reserve $400,000 Room Tax $100,000 Telecommunications $ 73,500* $573,500 * Franchise fees may, overtime, be removed as part of the legislation proposed in Madison…PEG fees will be eliminated automatically $33,000 per YEAR.

Stevens Point Demographics Median Income $33,178*** St. Pt $51,238 ** Plover 17% of households (1999) were listed below poverty level 50/50 split between Family and non-family households (non- family are those living alone and/ or over 65) ***This number does NOT include UWSP students

Tax levy or Utility Fees? Utility Districts are not currently under Levy Controls. We must be concerned on financial impacts to our taxpayers. Fee is just another name for a tax

Changes Effective * Sanitary Sewer Infrastructure and personnel transferred to Waste Water. Service levels stay the same, and Waste Water currently pays for this service. * Engineering Tech transferred to Waste Water * Life Guards eliminated for beaches

Changes cont’d Winter and summer recreation programs will be eliminated after May 1, 2008 New Streets management position will not be filled and a new position of Assistant Superintendent of Streets will be created. Limit of two management positions. Protective Services – two positions will be eliminated Assistant Fire Chief position will be created, or a “second in command” to take administrative responsibilities away from current Deputy Chiefs making them true shift commanders

Changes from & Technology responsibility will be consolidated from all departments and centralized to eliminate duplication. Data Processing/Accounting Manager position will be terminated on May 1, 2008 New Senior Accountant position will be created Parks Program Director position will be eliminated as of May 1, 2008

Changes cont’d Overtime/ comp time will be eliminated for all non-represented employees which are salaried positions. Longevity will be eliminated for all “new” non-representative employees and elimination of longevity for new union hires will be bargained. ($76,500 for 2008)

Other Possible Changes Create Storm Water Utility or move to Wastewater After Revaluation, consider changes in Assessor's Office Further Departmental Consolidation Automated Garbage/Recycling Collection with Staffing Changes Examine any future contract or proposal for material savings in all departments

Changes cont’d To meet 2009 levy restraint estimated (3.0%) EIGHT(8) additional positions will need to be eliminated and job duties reallocated. If additional cost savings measures cannot be found.

Positive operational changes Employee Health Insurance concessions will save approximately $200,000 in back to double digit increases Change of liability insurance carrier will save approximately $125,000 for 2008

Capital Improvement for 2008 Flood plain study 20,000 Revaluation 90,000 Vehicle and equipment 763,000 ( 8- squad cars, 2- sweepers, 2-chippers tanker truck, street repair equip)

Infrastructure and Equipment Invest $1,000,000 in road maintenance annually - priority levels will be changed Purchase $1,000,000 of fire equipment the number of units ( 1 or 2) will depend on grant approval and working with surrounding communities to cost share and perhaps regionalize - dept will be good for 25 years Investing in downtown ( TIF 6) north side (TIF 5) and working on other developments in the community. Invest $1,000,000 in Capital Improvements annually

Operational changes Creating City wide GIS system GIS: Giving us the productivity in the field with laptops to do more with less. Review operations in every department for cost saving measures and reallocation of resources. How can we be more efficient? This is NO LONGER a catch phrase…or services WILL need to be eliminated. Review Overtime costs currently $514,000 for 2008

Unknown for 2008 Fire Department * contract settlement date * wages are budgeted for a 3% increase * health insurance budgeted to be the same as for other bargaining units. Each month the contract is not settled the Fire Dept budget will have to absorb $5,200 / month.

New Growth From $54,665,245

Bullseye -$370,396

Recommended 2008 budget 2008 levy $11,938,963 Estimated assessed tax rate $ = 9.23 Decrease (.14) / 1,000 valuation or 1.5% ($17.50) on $125,000 home for the entire year.