Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/28/2023 FC Minutes FINANCE COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Thursday, September 28, 2023 rd Executive Conference Room – 3Floor, Village Hall Mount Prospect, IL 60056 I.Call toOrder Meeting called to order at6:30p.m. Commission members present:Kenneth Arndt, Yulia Bjekic (arrived at 6:33p), Trisha Chokshi, Edward Derfler, Vince Grochocinski and Don Ocwieja Commission members absent: Pam Bazan Staff present: Director of Finance Amit Thakkar, Deputy Director of Finance Jennifer Fitzgerald, Police Chief Michael Eterno, Deputy Police Chief Anthony Addante, Deputy Police Chief Joe Garris, Director of Public Works Sean Dorsey, Deputy Director of Public Works Jason Leib, Fire Chief John Dolan, Deputy Fire Chief Tom Wang and Assistant to the Village Manager Alexander Bertolucci. II. Approval of Minutes a. Motion by Kenneth Arndt seconded by Vince Grochocinski to approve the minutes of the Finance Commission special meeting of July 27, 2023. Chair Chokshi called a voice vote. Motion Passed unanimously. III. Citizens to be Heard None IV. Old Business None V. New Business a.Budget 2024 i. General Budget Finance Director Amit Thakkar started the presentation by providing an overview of terms and definitions including capital budget, operating budget, balanced budget, surplus budget, and deficit budget. He gave highlights of the 2024 Budget that includes: decreasing the property tax levy by $974,673 or 4.8% (Village portion), allocating $2 million from General Fund revenues to abatement pensions, recommends elimination of vehicle sticker program and a water rate increase of 5.95% versus the 8% previously planned. He showed the Revenue Budget amounts and provided specifics on each revenue category. He reviewed property tax levy changes from 2015 through 2023 and explained how the timing of bond issuance impacted changes to the levy. He also reviewed the levy categories: police protection, fire protection, pension funds, debt service and the Mount Prospect Public Library’s levy. The Village of Mount Prospect and Mount Prospect Public Library levies combined is decreasing Finance Commission Page 1 of 4 09/28/2023 $652,353or-2.9%.Mr. Thakkar explained that the property tax levy without abatements would increase 17.3%. In response to questions from the Finance Commission, Mr. Thakkar stated that the 2025 Budget is to be provided $2 million in pension abatements. He shared that the Village may not be able to keep pace with pension contribution amounts to meet the target of 100% funded by 2040. This depends on interest rate assumptions, actuarial changes, and market performance. Levy and abatement amounts may become too burdensome, and the Village may need to change to the State’s required amount of 90% by 2040. In response to questions from the Finance Commission, Mr. Thakkar stated it is possible that even with abatements the pension levy amount may become too burdensome. He shared 2021 tax data of six (6) neighboring towns, 2022 tax data is not available yet to complete a benchmarking comparison. Mr. Thakkar gave an overview of the major revenue categories from 2019 actuals to the 2025 forecast budget. He stated expenditures total $164,648,135 of which $90,927,623 is the Operating Budget and reviewed expense categories. He gave the total employee headcount and discussed the personnel changes implemented from the 2023 budget and during the year. He reviewed union and non-union wages and the 5% increase for insurance premiums. ii. Police Police Chief Michael Eterno reviewed department staffing and the request for an additional Sergeant. The Sergeant would be assigned to the Investigations Division to facilitate a Commander to be reassigned from Investigations to Operations to focus on department trainings. He also reviewed programming the department is looking to add in 2024 that includes a police cadet program and certified therapy dog. Chief Eterno reviewed the department’s budget figures and expenditures for administration and field operations. Chief Eterno responded to questions from the Finance Commission: A police cadet program is a multi-year term program versus School District 214’s Career Pathways Program which is short term. Police departments are competing to hire the same candidates, new hires and laterals. Department tried conducting a new hire test through an online platform, less people took the test compared to prior paper tests, but the online test also had a much higher passing rate than the paper test. Most candidates are prepared for the POWER (fitness) test, but struggle with the math and vocabulary components. Staff is exploring the feasibility of another Police K-9 for finding missing people and not apprehension work. The department is evaluating if there is an opportunity to place an officer with the DEA or IRS: is it a resource to utilize and asset seizure funds Finance Commission Page 2 of 4 09/28/2023 have assisted with prior purchases. iii. Fire Fire Chief John Dolan reviewed department staffing that included hiring six (6) new firefighters for operating a second ambulance south of train tracks full time during 2023. Chief Dolan presented 2024 department initiatives that includes receiving delivery of a new ambulance, recertifying all paramedics, improving Station 14’s dispatch system, new hire and lieutenant promotion exams, and improvements to Station 12. He shared the fire department’s budget figures for personnel costs, contractual services expenditures, commodities & supplies items, and other equipment. iv. Public Works Director of Public Works Sean Dorsey summarized the Public Works personnel budget increases and the projected long-term saving as it relates with the recently approved Local 150 union collective bargaining agreement. The department is also adding one maintenance employee for a total of 40. Mr. Dorsey reviewed the department’s 2024 Budget that includes a 3% increase to contractual services and commodities. He shared upcoming initiatives like the Meyn Busse Park winter decoration project, contribution to Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County for a transfer station roof replacement and switching to a Geographic Information System (GIS) consulting service instead of hiring an inhouse GIS position. Mr. Dorsey reviewed the Public Works expenditures by division. In response to questions from the Finance Commission, Mr. Dorsey stated contractual services must pay prevailing wage per the Illinois Department of Labor, but do not need hire union labor. Mr. Thakkar closed the budget presentation and reviewed the upcoming meeting schedule with the Village Board. VI. Any Other Business None VII. Chairperson’s Report None VIII. Finance Director’s Report None IX. Next Meeting: October 26, 2023 X. Adjournment: Motion by Kenneth Arndt seconded by Vince Grochocinski to adjourn the meeting. Chair Chokshi called roll call vote. Motion Carried unanimously. Finance Commission Page 3 of 4 09/28/2023 The meeting adjourned at 8:28p.m. Alexander Bertolucci Assistant to the Village Manager Finance Commission Page 4 of 4 09/28/2023