Staff Reports
Jefferson City Council made short work of Tuesday night’s agenda which consisted of mostly housekeeping actions.
The Oct. 4 special council meeting will be moved to Wednesday, Oct. 5 to not interfere with the planned National Night Out activities at the Transportation Center.
Aldermen chose to deny two building permits and a request to sell a portion of Dallas Street during the meeting. The requests were from July and November 2021.
Joe McDonnell had submitted a building permit request last November to purchase 10×62.16 feet of the right of way along the northern side of Dallas Street near the intersection of Vale Street. He had also requested a permit to build a sidewalk on the purchased property. The requests had been tabled based on needing additional information from McDonnell and to evaluate the width of Dallas Street in that area. Both requests were denied 6-0.
Kathy Torrans also received a denial on her request from July 2021 to build a carport next to her garage at 701 N. Alley Street. When it was requested, the City had ordered construction to stop and the request tabled until a survey could be obtained to determine if a portion of the carport was going to be in the city alley right of way. Torrans completed construction anyway. The city obtained a survey from Dave Hamilton which showed the carport was in the right-of-way.
Council moved funds around on the 2021-22 Police Department budget to properly categorize payments for equipment approved at last week’s meeting. The funds moved include:
• $6,100 from Payroll to Uniforms
• 40,550 from Payroll to Materials and Minor Equipment
• $14,500 from Vehicle Capital Outlay to Camera
• $6,570.95 from Payroll to Technology
• $5,9333 from Payroll to Animal Control
Alderman Richard Turner, who was absent from the meeting where the expenditure was approved, expressed concerns over spending this amount of funds all at once, and that there was only one source for the bids.
Mayor Rob Baker said he had asked JPD Chief Tino Perez to create a chart of the various pieces of equipment, expiration dates, expected replacement dates, etc., so that it can be better budgeted and replaced in the future.
Alderman Robin Moore also said that she would like to see Perez pursue more grants in the future for these types of expenses.
Baker responded that Perez had indicated last week that he was going to return to doing that as he was now back fully staffed. Baker also said many of the grants don’t fund until 12-18 months after application, but it doesn’t hurt to get ahead.
Following the meeting Council held their last budget workshop for the 2022-23 Fiscal year preparations.
Baker reviewed his proposed budget with council, indicating a proposed Consolidated Budget revenue of $4,26,371. This is less than the 2021-22 budget revenue of $4,451,836.
Expenses wise, Baker proposed $4,531,968, versus $4,351,531 for 2021-22. Baker said part of the extra expenses was the 2021-22 streets campaign which will not be paid until the 2022-23 Fiscal Year.
Baker projects the city will have $407,984 net cash at the end of September, and $265,000 of it will be transferred to the next budget for the streets project.
Most City employees will receive a $2 per hour raise in 2022-23. Exceptions include the Police department, which is receiving a pro-rated 3% raise based on tenure, the Police Department Secretary receiving a $1.50 per hour raise, and Tourism Department employees will receive 3%. The City Municipal Judge will receive a 6% raise as the salary has not been increased in four years.
The other employee related expense increase is in the area of City paid health insurance which is expected to increase between 12-18%. Baker built 18% into the budget but the City won’t know the actual amount until late September.
The City has scheduled budget and tax rate hearings for September 19 and 20 at the Transportation Center with adoption to follow.