Minutes 12/12/2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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December 12, 2017 Discussion:  Elizabeth River Project has agreed to donate up to $20,000 to make up the budget shortfall. Financial Impact:  There is no cost to the city. The project is fully funded through a Land and Water Conservation Fund Grant and donations from Elizabeth River Project. Staff Recommends:  Adoption of the ordinance. Next Steps Following Council Action:  The Finance Department will make the necessary budgetary adjustments. Motion by Ms. Lucas-Burke, and seconded by Mr. Clark, to adopt the following ordinance, and was adopted by the following vote: “ORDINANCE ACCEPTING A DONATION OF $20,000 TO THE CITY FROM THE ELIZABETH RIVER PROJECT AND APPROPRIATING SAID FUNDS TO THE FY 2018 GRANTS FUND FOR USE FOR THE CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF PARADISE CREEK NATURE PARK.” Ayes: Cherry, Clark, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Whitaker, Rowe Nays: None 17 - 537 - Adoption of an ordinance authorizing the transfer of $480,000 within the Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Category of the FY 2018 General Fund Budget from the Salaries line item to the Overtime line item for the purpose of paying overtime costs. Background:  Per City Code, City Council is required to approve all budget transfers exceeding $100,000. Discussion:  The Fire Department is experiencing higher than usual overtime costs due to vacancies and adopted salary increase for corresponding pay rates for personnel used to fill overtime hours.  The annual budget is a plan that is prepared for a 12-month period outlining revenues and expenditures that are anticipated over the coming year. Unusual circumstances may occur that require adjustments to the adopted budget.  Sound financial policy is to cover increase in operational expenses with savings from other expenditure accounts or with increases from additional current year revenue.  The proposed ordinance requests the transfer of vacancy savings from the FY 2018 Fire salary line to cover the increases in Fire overtime operational costs.  To alleviate the cost associated with overtime, the Fire Department is implementing adjustments to staffing plans to provide maximum coverage of shifts. In addition, a new Fire Academy Class has started with trainees graduating in the spring of 2018.  The city is also planning on re-hiring previously trained firefighters requiring only minimal training.  While steps are being taken to address reducing overtime costs, it is anticipated that there will be further overtime cost overages in the year that will require additional budget transfers when necessary. Financial Impact:  This budget transfer will allow the city to cover unanticipated costs associated with overtime expenses in the Fire Department. This budget transfer is necessary to provide sufficient funding for coverage.  There is no impact to fund balance as current year expenditures savings will cover the transfers.