 They began their day armed with a copy of the current year budget
and a revenue and expense report for all city departments.
The 107-page "R&E" gave details by department and individual
expense account regarding what the current budget amount is, how
much of it has been expended and how much remains to finish out the
year.
It offered them insight into how well the departments have
managed their budgets this year, in what areas too much was budgeted
and in what areas too little.
As of March 12, 316 days of this fiscal year have passed, which
means that budgets should be no more than 86 percent expended for
departments to be on track. Because not all payments made by the
city are monthly, there are some exceptions where the amount may be
over 86 percent but with no additional expenditures before the end
of the fiscal year.
Looking at the R&E figures for the police department on the
whole, the budget is currently 84.08 percent expended for the year.
For the 2011-12 year, Lincoln Police Chief Ken Greenslate's
proposed budget increased by slightly over 2 percent. Expenses
associated with payroll, particularly insurance, went up, while most
other expenses were lowered or maintained at the 2010 budget amount.
Alderwoman Melody Anderson said there would be a significant
change in the amount budgeted for the clerical position at the
police station. Brenda McCabe moved from City Hall to police
clerical this year. McCabe is a long-term employee and also a union
member who earns at a higher pay level than the previous clerk.
Greenslate said there would be one officer possibly retiring. He
said the salary savings between the retiree and a new hire would
equal $18,144 in the first two years.
Anderson and Greenslate said they have discussed dropping the
crossing guard program for District 27 schools. Greenslate said he
has visited with Dr. Mary Ahillen, superintendent of District 27,
and that she does understand the city's circumstances.
Anderson pointed out that currently the city uses a tax levy to
help pay for the crossing guards. Doing away with the guards can
only be done by referendum, but there may be an alternative. The
city could pay the tax money to the district to help defray their
costs. The sum collected each year is approximately $11,000.
[to top of second column] |
In addition, this is a collective bargaining year for union
employees. The city is using a law firm that specializes in such
negotiations. In the police line there is $10,000 budgeted for this
service that will not be budgeted in the coming year.
However the $10,000 saved on negotiation fees was wiped out by
$10,000 added to the annual cost of gasoline due to the currently
inflated gas prices.
For the coming budget year there is an estimated $54,000 in
capital expenses from the general obligation bond earmarked for the
police department. These funds can only be used for capital
purchases; they cannot be used to help pay wages or general
expenses.
Greenslate said that if the city chose to use the money, he would
prefer to purchase up to three good used squad cars over two new
ones. He said that buying good used, the city would get more bang
for the buck over buying new.
Greenslate also talked to the council about the need for more
manpower in his department. Currently there are 24 officers on the
city's police force. Greenslate reminded the council he was not
replaced on the force when appointed chief last year.
He relayed a scenario to the council: "Have you ever moved
furniture? Have you ever moved furniture by yourself? Then you know
how much it helps when you have that one more person. It doesn't
add, it multiples to how much you can get done.
"We're getting by, we're doing OK. But, sometimes we don't have
the timely answers people would like," he said, referring to crime
investigations, "because we have just one man pushing all the
furniture around.
"I'll be straight with you," he concluded. "If I had the choice
between a new car or two new cars and another man, I'll take the
man. We can drive around in junk, but we need help."
[By NILA SMITH]
Part 1:
Snyder: 'We need a city manager'; council agrees |
