Minutes 06/20/1962 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

June 20th, 1962 At a called meeting of the Portsmouth City Council, held on June 20th, 1962 the~e R. Irvine Smith, John L. Dillon', L. L. Knight, W. T. Leary, George R. Walker, A. P. Johnson, Jr., City Manager, and J. S. Livesay, Jr., City Attorney. The meeting was opened with prayer by Mr. Smith. The following call for the meeting was read: "Please attend a called meeting of the City Council, in the Council Chamber, Municipal Building, on Wednesday, June 20th, 1962 at 7:30 P.M., to consider the following: ~. Public hearing on 1962-63 Budget 2. To place appropriations on first reading for operation of the City · Government for the year 1962-63 3. Appointment of an Assistant City Attorney 4. Ordinance on first reading appropriating funds to purchase mobile class rooms. By Order of the President. budget. The Chair announced that the meeting was open for a public hearing on the 1962-63 No one spo-ke in regard to the budget. The following communications from the City Manager were read: 62-146 - "Transmitted herewith is the proposed Budget for the City of Portsmouth for the fiscal year 1962-63. The recommended budget totals $13:546,357.00 as compared with $12,369,803.00 for 1961-62. This amounts To an increase of 9 per cent. It is my opinion that the estimated revenue increase is conservative, ex- cluding the Real Estate Tax which cannot be finally determined until after the assessmen~ has been completed in August. It will be necessary at that time for the Council Lo review the entire budge~ To determine its sufficiency. The School Appropriation request represents the largest increase in the annual budget. This increase of $575,202.00 is mainly to provide salary increases for the teachers, raising the minimum annual pay from $4,000 to $4,100. The greater par5 of the increase in the City Budget is reflected in normal increment increases To employees for length of service, debt service, and 12 additional employees. All departments made a request for salary increases bur they were advised that none could be provided until such time as the new assessment has been completed. This budget does not provide for any salary increases other than normal increments and salary adjustments for offices that are joint State and City participation. The following are comments on some of the more important increases in the Budget recommendations as compared to the current budget: a. The Judicial Department reflects an increase due to the increased workload.in the Hustings Court, Civil Court, and Juvenile and Domestic~Relations Court. Three additional employees have been recommended in this department. b. A substantial increase is shown in the Department of Public Welfare necessitated by the State Welfare departmen~ increasing the minimum grants for assistance. Also, additional funds were provided for more hospitalization payments through the Social Service Bureau. While the increase in this department is substantial, the cost to the City.is about 20 per cent of the total increase. c. The increase in the Public Safety Department is largely the fire hydrant charges being budgeted this year and normal increment pay increases for the personnel of the Fire and Police Departments. d. The Public Works increase is substantially less than requested by this department. However, it does provide for the operation of the new incinerator plus normal increments due employees based on length of service. e. During the coming budget year for the first time the City will be operating a first-class library, which is expected to be opened by the first of 1963. Also included in this budget is an appro- priation for the operation of the new Naval Museum for this fiscal year. f. Debt Service has increased due 5o sale of bonds issued for the construction of the aew incinerator, street improvements in Lincolns- ville, and the modernization of the Post Office for the aew library. While this proposed budget shows a substantial increase over the previous year's budget, it does no~ fulfill the requests ~made by the varlous departments of the City. However, on the basis of our current year's experience, I believe that all departments can operate efficiently within this budget and that estimated revenues will be real~zed. I recommend %hat-the attached ordinances be placed on first reading." Motion of Mr. Dillon to approve the following ordinance on first reading: "AN ORDINANCE TO ~PPROPRIATE FUNDS NECESSARY FOR OPERATION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT FOR _~(D DURING THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 1962, AND ENDING JUNE 30, 1963."