Tonight’s Delaware City Council meeting will include more discussion on the 2016 budget and consideration of 2 percent pay raises for city staff.
There will be second readings of ordinances establishing pay and benefits for permanent part-time employees; as well amending the pay plan for all non-union employees.
“The proposed 2016 budget reflects the addition of a permanent part-time position, human resources coordinator, and increases wages by 2 percent for all permanent part-time positions,” states a council fact sheet prepared by city staff. “The proposed 2016 budget reflects the addition of a parks and natural resources director and economic development director with the department head pay plan and an increase in wages by 2 percent for all non-union positions.”
There will also be a second reading amending benefits for the municipal court and clerk of courts.
Council has until the end of the year to pass the budget. The final work session will be part of the regular council meeting at 7:30 p.m., with presentations on the municipal court with judges David Sunderman, Marianne Hemmeter and clerk Cindy Dinovo.
Later in the meeting, council’s 2016 budget discussion will continue with other funds, and a review of any changes. Parks and natural resources have yet to be discussed.
Two budget work sessions took place last week, with one focusing on administrative departments, and the other on operating departments.
If necessary, an additional work session may take place Thursday. Council is expected to adopt the budget as part of the year-end meeting on Dec. 21. Council members are told that passing the budget is the most important part of their jobs.
The budget estimates revenues of $19,478,000 for 2016; and the expenditures are estimated to be $19,456,219. The revenue is projected to be 5.9 percent over the 2015 budget; the expenditures expected to increase 5.8 percent from 2015. The fund balance, or rainy day fund, is estimated to be $3,319,254, which meets council’s target of 17 percent. The total appropriations of all funds is $107,906,783.
Also on the agenda is a resolution whether to approve the sales of a dump truck and a pickup truck with a plow blade, both of which “have outgrown their useful serviceable life.” There will also be a third reading on adding a new chapter on income to the city code to reflect the changes in state law as a result of House Bill 5.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. on the second floor of City Hall, 1 S. Sandusky St.
