Minutes 03/21/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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March 21. 2005 Each of these efforts will allow us to modernize the organization, to include better utilization of technology in the delivery of services and use of information, but more importantly, in defining the fundamental job of public service at all levels as "community building." Our key daily question is: How can we best work with the community in fulfilling the City's Vision. To that end, we are blessed with great public employees, but we need to refocus and in some cases redirect our efforts as we face the future. BUDGET OVERVIEW Major themes that are incorporated in these budgets include: . Increased funding for education . Progress on financial strategies . Improving the City's economic prosperity . Transforming neighborhoods and communities . Investing in our employees . Leveraging technology to improve services . Improving public safety capabilities . Strategically marketing Portsmouth Many of these themes support several of Council's six Vision components, which are: . Bold New Directions . Lifelong Learning Community . Neighborhood and Community Transformation . Robust and Prospering Economy . World Class Maritime Center . Pride of Past, Promise of Future For example, supporting the Schools budget is, in and of itself, a Bold New Direction that helps us achieve a Lifelong Learning Community while contributing to Neighborhood and Community Transformation and a Robust and Prospering Economy, and supporting our Pride of Past, Promise of the Future. It is within the realm of reality that achievement of a "preferred educational system" is a significant step in supporting a World Class Maritime Center. In the same vein, our budget themes of investing in our employees and leveraging technology to improve services also support most if not all of the Council Vision Statements. Enhancing our workforce and making better use of technology are both focused on improved customer services, which is at the very heart of the mission of local government and supports all of our efforts to move forward. Following is a discussion of the major themes of this budget presentation. INCREASED FUNDING FOR EDUCATION This budget fully funds the School Superintendent's baseline budget recommendation (as submitted on March 4, 2005), providing an increase of $3.4 million in operating funds, which includes a salary increase for teachers of 5.5 to 6 percent. In addition to teacher salary increases, the $3.4 million requested by the Superintendent from the City includes non-teacher salary increases, technology upgrades, middle-school enhancement programs, nurses' salaries, and retirement and health insurance funding. The recommended budget also includes an additional $1.6 million to support the first year of the School Board's plan to bring school teacher salaries to parity within the region over three years. The FY06 "installment" will provide an additional 3 percent salary increase for teachers. The City also intends to continue to support the School Board's "catch up" plan, as resources will allow in the coming years.