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<br />
<br />Jane 10, 1969
<br />
<br />Workers must meet the same requirements as school teachers; therefore, we must maintain a salary level close tc
<br />the teaching profession in order to retain qualified social workers. There is also reflected au increase of
<br />$18,420 in salaries for the Portsmouth Port and ~ndustrial Commission. This is due to increases granted by the
<br />Port Comkission. Therels, however, a revenue item offsetting all salaries paid to the Port Conuuission. It is
<br />carried through our books in order that the Pert Commission employees can receive the same benefits as other
<br />City employees.
<br />
<br /> Contractual Services reflects an increase of $50,140. Th~ constitutes small increases spent t~rough the
<br />various departments due to increased cost in services along with a $46,000 increase in cost of hospitalization
<br />of indigents.
<br />
<br /> Fixed Charges have increased by $43,050 in this budget. This is due to increased payments in Social
<br />Security, additional funds for street lighting, increased jury fees, and other minor items throughout the bud-
<br />get.
<br />
<br /> Material and Supplies have increased by $95,182. $51,500 has been added under the City Jail budget. This
<br />is for the necessary provisions to feed the prisoners when the new jail is opened. Also, $26,700 has been
<br />added under Traffic Engineering for additional paiat amLtzafficengineer~ng supplies. During the past year,
<br />some of this work has been neglected due to the limited budget during 1968~69. There has also been added
<br />additional funds in the amount of $51,000 for street maintenance material for the paving of additional streets
<br />
<br /> Under Equipment, $40,000 has been provided for the replacement of a fire amg~, plus $10,000 for fire
<br />hose, $S,000 for office equipment, and $5,O00 for radios.
<br />
<br />Specific departments that show any substantial increase are as follows:
<br />
<br />Retirement Board
<br />
<br />$ 49,483
<br />
<br />This is due to increased cost of Social Security Tax and the 4.5% salary and wage increase.
<br />
<br />Health Department
<br />
<br />60,890
<br />
<br />This is a result of additional personnel needed, plus additional funds in fees for doctors.
<br />
<br />Hospitalization of Indigents
<br />
<br />$ 45,480
<br />
<br />This increase is based on our current experience under the State local hospitalization contract where the
<br />City must pay for medically indigent patients.
<br />
<br />Welfare $ 214,306
<br />
<br />This is as a resu~,of increased welfarepayments plus additional recipients.
<br />
<br />Police Department
<br />
<br />$ 151,994
<br />
<br />The majority of this increase is for salaries based on the 4-1/2% increase.
<br />
<br />Traffic Engineering
<br />
<br />$ 77,822
<br />
<br />This caused by indreased funds for street lighting, additonal funds for traffice signs and paint, and salary
<br />increases.
<br />
<br />Fire Department
<br />
<br />151,504
<br />
<br />Practically all of this increase is as the result of the 4-1/2% salary increase.
<br />
<br />Streets & Highways
<br />
<br />$ 68,528
<br />
<br />Of this increase, $50,000 additional hasbeen added to this budget category for street materials to maintain
<br />the streets.
<br />
<br />Collection of Trash & Garbage
<br />
<br />$ 51,520
<br />
<br />This increase is due to salary increases plus three additional employees.
<br />
<br /> There is also included in this proposed budget a new Department of Personnel with an estimated budget
<br />of $18,804.- This has long been needed by the City and should not be delayed any longer. Job descriptions for
<br />all position~ in the City need to be updated and compiled and professional screening and interviewing for job
<br />applicants be done. This department can greatly assist the other departments in recruiting qualified persons
<br />for any future vacant positions.
<br />
<br /> It is further proposed, to emply a Public Information Officer in the budget. It will be the duty of this
<br />department ~o handle complaints of citizens, to see that they get the proper information and department that
<br />they desire. Every attempt ,will be made to get as much information to the public on all matters of City
<br />Government as well as channel information between departments of City Government in order that they are properl
<br />advised.
<br />
<br /> In our program for combining our Water and Sewage Departments into one Department of Public Utilities,
<br />there has been removed from the General Fund the budget category of Sewer Maintenance which amounts to better
<br />than $200,000. By removing this item from the General Pund budget, we have been able te balance this fund by
<br />only the increase i~business licenses and Cigarette Tax.
<br />
<br /> Our PffDlic Utility budget reflects an estimated revenue of $5,587,600. Included in these revenue esti-
<br />mate~ is an increase in the water rate of $¢ per hundred cubic feet which equals a 10% increase in the rate.
<br />There is also an increase in sewage disposal charges of 2~. These rate increases are necessary to absorb the
<br />transfer of the Sewer Maintenance from the General Fund.
<br />
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