HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/11/2016 COW MinutesFINANCIAL PLANNING WORKSHOP MINUTES
JOINT MEETING with VILLAGE BOARD and FINANCE COMMISSION
October 11, 2016
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 6:34 p.m. in the Village Board Room of the Village
Hall, 50 South Emerson Street, by Mayor Arlene Juracek.
II. ROLL CALL
Trustees present included Paul Hoefert, Steven Polit, Richard Rogers, Colleen
Saccotelli, and Michael Zadel. Finance Commission members present included
Commission Chair John Kellerhals, Pam Bazan, Trisha Chokski, Vince Grochocinski,
Thomas Pekras and Mary Rath.
Staff present included Village Manager Michael Cassady, Assistant to the Village
Manager Nellie Beckner, Community Development Director William Cooney, Public
Works Director Sean Dorsey, Finance Director David Erb, Police Chief Timothy
Janowick, Human Services Director Julie Kane, Fire Chief Brian Lambel, Chief
Technology and Innovation Officer Andrew Schaeffer, Human Services Deputy Director
Jan Abernethy, Fire Deputy Chief John Dolan, Finance Deputy Director Lynn Jarog,
CCC Coordinator Victoria Bran, Fire Marshal Brian Loomis, Fire Administrative
Coordinator Sarah Gonet and Administrative Analyst Alexander Bertolucci.
III. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD
None
IV. 2017 BUDGET DISCUSSION
1) Opening Remarks
Mayor Juracek provided welcoming remarks and stated this is the first of two financial
planning workshops to discuss the 2017 budget.
2) Budget Overview
Finance Director Erb provided a general overview of the budget. He stated the General
Fund is anticipated to end 2016 with a surplus of $830,000. Tax levy increase for the
2017 budget is lower than initially proposed since revenue growth can cover the 1%
required to fund the SAFER grant. Mr. Erb also reviewed utility rates of which the
water/sewer rate increases 4% and the forecasted Refuse Collection fee increase of $15
will not be required for 2017. He stated the general fund balance is in a position to
transfer $500,000 million to support mid-range capital projects. He also stated updated
actuarial information has required increases to public safety pensions. These increases
will be supported by using current revenues. He reviewed budget document
enhancements, that the Village received GOFA Distinguished Budget Award for the 25th
year, and the Village's "AA+" Standard and Poor's rating was confirmed in 2016.
Finance Director Erb presented the preliminary results of the 2016 Budget and provided
the following in response to questions from the Village Board and Finance Commission.
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• Expect revenue adjustment with next budget amendment.
• December 31 fund balance expected to be at 33.9%. The Village's Fund Balance
Policy outlines procedures to manage reserves when they reach above the 30%
and 50% fund balance levels.
• Water billing revenue is decreasing. Automatic Meter Readers, system efficiency
improvements and conservation measures are contributing factors to the
decrease in water consumption.
• New revenues generated at Randhurst Village are returned to the Village.
• Revenue Bonds: the Village is not at risk to pull money to make payments.
He summarized the 2017 proposed budget. Total budgeted revenues increase 1.6%
from 2016 amended budget. Intergovernmental revenues increase 14.4% due to sales
taxes and state income and use taxes experiencing growth. He reviewed revenues by
source and their percentage of total revenue (e.g. 25.7% Charges for Service, 24.9%
Intergovernmental Revenue, 17.2% Property Taxes). He also presented that 2017
expenditures decreased by 4% from 2016 amended budget due to timing and
completion of capital projects. The budget incorporates a 2.27% property tax increase
for a total levy of $18,727,573. Staff has and will continue to maintain a multistep plan to
respond to potential impacts from the State budget impasse.
Finance Director Erb provided the following in response to questions from the Village
Board and Finance Commission.
• Pension payments include liability costs.
• Contributing factors to the decrease in the capital budget is timing and
completion of recent larger than average projects.
• State income: there were a few onetime events that caused larger payments and
should not expect that to continue in the future.
• 2016, 2017, and 2018 shows the structural budget imbalance has been
eliminated.
• Provided background on the upcoming refunding of the 2009 series bonds.
He also provided an overview of the forecast budget for 2018 and reviewed the
proposed 2016 tax levy of 2.27% or for a home with an EAV of $95,386 (Property Value
of $350,000) a $27 increase.
General comments from the Village Board and Finance Commission members included
the following items:
• Good fiscal news and continue conservative approach.
• There was general discussion regarding the fund balance for the general fund.
• There was a question regarding the difference between the previous forecasted
2016 property tax levy (3.27%) and the current proposed 2016 property tax levy
(2.27%) or $80,000.
3) Human Services Department
Human Services Director Julie Kane provided an overview of the Human Services
budget and highlighted services provided by the Department. The department's budget
increased 2.2% ($24,293) from 2016. Some 2017 initiatives to highlight include the
addition of a part-time/as needed Public Health Nurse position, Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Risk Assessment, contracting with a language
and sign interpreter service, and implementation of case management software. She
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stated projected 2016 revenues total $49,850 which is collected through various service
fees, grants, agreements and donations. She also reviewed some 2016
accomplishments and 2017 department objectives.
Human Services Director Kane provided the following in response to questions from the
Village Board and Finance Commission:
• Staff plans to continue the American Red Cross Shelter Operations training with
developing a shelter plan and conducting hands on training to set up a shelter.
• The department is looking to host parenting education classes designed as
couple programs available in Spanish and English.
• Reviewed Food Pantry program and required financial assessments prior to
distribution.
• The legacy case management software and how new software would provide
secure remote access.
• State budget cuts have impacted the department indirectly. It is becoming
increasingly difficult to link people to the appropriate resources and service
providers due to limited state funding.
• Reviewed the referral process between police, fire, community development and
human services for crisis situations or situations where a crisis is pending but
with intervention can be averted.
4) Community Development Department
Community Development Director William Cooney provided a general overview of the
department's 2017 Budget, Strategic Plan Accomplishments and 2017 Initiatives. The
department's budget increased 0.4% ($9,954) from 2016 and contributing factors are
reorganization and personnel changes. The budget also reflects a $15,000 increase in
the Economic Development Program. This allocation would provide funding for the
Village to participate in Next Level Northwest which is a partnership of eight northwest
suburban communities to establish a regional business accelerator partnership to assist
stage 2 companies. He provided an overview of recent annexations, the demolition of
central plaza and preparing the site for new development, zoning code and sign code
updates, and initiating the Comprehensive Plan update. He highlighted that vacancy in
Kensington Business Center is down to 9% and industrial vacancy throughout the
Village down to 4%.
Community Development Director Cooney provided the following in response to
questions from the Village Board and Finance Commission:
• Expanded monitoring of property maintenance standards throughout the Village by
changing a part-time inspector to full-time.
• Explained the trends in work load measures relating to changes in planning and
zoning activity.
• Provided updates on several developments and businesses in the Village.
• Discussed the Rand Road Corridor Study and initial concept changes to the Rand
Rd, Kensington Rd, and Elmhurst Rd (Rt 83) intersections to improve traffic
movement in the least impactful way.
• The Village's economic development initiatives and resources are shared through
multiple department budgets.
5) Fire Department
Fire Chief Brian Lambel provided an overview of the Fire Department budget.
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The proposed budget amount for 2017 is $15,044,830 and reflects a 4.4% increase. A
significant amount of the increase is related to pension increases. The department
continues to maintain its high emphasis on departmental training, safety, succession
planning and intergovernmental agreements. Chief Lambel summarized 2017 significant
budget increases. He also reviewed 2016 accomplishments. 2017 department
initiatives include implementing Target Solutions software to consolidate training
documents into one program that would also assist with State Fire Marshal audits.
Other primary initiatives are to expand the fire safety education program and join the
Northeastern Illinois Public Safety Training Academy (NIPSTA) to access additional
training opportunities.
Fire Chief Brian Lambel provided the following in response to questions from the Village
Board and Finance Commission:
• Budget increases to the fire safety education program are to pay for materials
and printing costs associated with providing the program in multiple languages.
• Current self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) equipment is two regulations
behind current standards and this necessitates that new equipment be
purchased all at once.
• Discussed the residential sprinkler program and its successes.
• Provided information regarding the SCBA grant the department applied for the
past two years.
• Explained that the changes in the emergency preparedness budget are related to
department restructuring planned for 2017 and changing the Fire Marshal
position to a Deputy Chief of Administration.
• Reviewed auto and mutual aid agreements with neighboring municipalities.
V. ANY OTHER BUSINESS
None.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:53 p.m.
ALEXANDER BERTOLUCCI
Administrative Analyst
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