Meeting Summary
The city council held a detailed budget workshop, reviewing the proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Key discussions included the city's financial health, revenue projections, departmental budget allocations, and capital improvement projects. The council emphasized the importance of maintaining fund balances and addressing rising operational costs.
Financial Matters
Operating Budget Increase
The operating budget increased from $195.1 million to $196.4 million year over year.
Sales Tax Projections
Sales tax revenues are projected to be flat, with many metro cities expecting similar trends.
Cost of Living Increase
A 3% cost of living increase was included in department budgets, totaling approximately $213,000 in General Revenue.
Unreserved Fund Balance
The city has an unreserved fund balance of nearly $12 million, which can be tapped for budget shortfalls.
Street Lighting Fee Shortfall
The street lighting fee revenue is $622,000, while expenditures are $790,000, leading to a projected shortfall.
Life and Health Insurance Rate Increase
A 6.5% rate increase for life and health insurance was approved, with 3.25% covered by employees and 3.25% by the city, supplemented by transfers from other funds.
Coming Up
Tabled
- Discussion on increasing hotel/motel tax
- Review of city committees and boards at strategic planning meeting
- Decision on street lighting fee increase or light reduction in four years
- Future discussion on merging drainage and storm water funds
- Future discussion on new GO bonds
Watch For
- Negotiations for police collective bargaining agreement
- Implementation of the storm water billing system by Central Square
- Progress on Mid-America Park Phase 1 construction
- Updates on the sewer master study
- Development of the DI Sporting Goods location
Announcements
- The meeting is being live-streamed on YouTube.
- The city budget is a 'living, breathing document' with monthly adjustments.
- The budget process starts in January with inter-service funds, followed by revenue projections and department head submissions in March.
- A review team, including senior leaders, meticulously reviews all department budgets.
- The city uses a two-year average for revenue projections to protect against economic downturns.
- The city has a credit union, Oklahoma Federal Credit Union, which rents space from the city.
- The city has an eBay store for selling surplus property, with proceeds supplementing departmental capital outlay.
- The city is working on establishing an Arts Council and a Community Unity on Race Relations committee.
- The city has made significant progress in securing federal funds for sidewalk construction.
- The city has a disaster relief fund of $7.8 million, built through monitoring contractor work with city employees.
- The city's debt service is decreasing by almost $7 million this year.
Agenda Summary
Budget Overview and Process
Presentation on how the city budget is put together, including inter-service funds, revenue projections, and department head submissions.
General Fund Review (Fund 010)
Discussion of the general fund balance, revenue projections, and expenditures for various departments including Human Resources, City Attorney, Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Finance, Street Department, Animal Welfare, Neighborhood Services, IT, Emergency Operations, Swimming Pools, and Communications.
General Government Sales Tax (Fund 090)
Review of the sales tax fund dedicated to general government and capital outlays for general fund operating departments, including capital requests and the distribution of IT costs.
Street and Alley Fund (Fund 013)
Discussion of revenue sources from county fuel taxes and commercial vehicle excise tax, and expenditures for street repairs, signal maintenance, and crack sealing.
Technology Fund (Fund 014)
Review of the technology fund, its revenue sources (citations, false alarm fees), and expenditures for hardware, software maintenance, and capital outlay, with costs distributed among departments.
Street Lighting Fee (Fund 016)
Discussion of the street lighting fee, its purpose, current revenue shortfall, and future options.
Reimbursed Projects (Fund 060)
Review of the fund for grants, cell phone tower rental income, and hospital authority grants, including the cost of painting the clock tower.
Police Department Operating Budget (Fund 020)
Detailed review of the police department's operating budget, including personnel additions (radio tech, SROs), storage network infrastructure costs, and collective bargaining agreements.
Police Department Capital Budget (Fund 021)
Discussion of the police department's capital requests, including patrol units, trucks, and a new camera system for parks.
Juvenile Fund (Fund 025)
Review of the juvenile fund, its revenue from tickets, and expenditures for a part-time juvenile officer and municipal prosecutor, with discussion on intervention programs.
Police State Seizures (Fund 030)
Discussion of the police state seizures fund, used for travel, school, uniforms, and small tools.
Police Special Projects (Fund 031)
Review of the fund for donations and programs like 'Shop with a Cop'.
Police Lab Fees (Fund 032)
Discussion of the police lab fees fund, with minimal revenue.
Employee Activity Funds (Fund 035)
Review of the fund for employee activities like swim parties and Christmas parties.
Jail Fund (Fund 036)
Discussion of the jail fund, revenue from incarceration fees and walk-through warrant services, and expenditures for maintenance and supplies.
Police Impound Fees (Fund 037)
Review of the police impound fees fund, used for travel, school, and supplies.
Fire Department Operating Budget (Fund 040)
Discussion of the fire department's operating budget, including revenue and expenditures.
Fire Department Capital Budget (Fund 041)
Review of the fire department's capital budget, including apparatus recapitalization.
Welcome Center (Fund 045)
Discussion of the Welcome Center budget, funded by hotel/motel tax, and plans to contract out park maintenance.
CVB (Fund 046)
Review of the CVB budget, including new positions for digital media coordinator and conference incentive funds.
Capital Drainage (Fund 060)
Discussion of the capital drainage fund, its limited budget, and the need for future investment.
Storm Water (Fund 061)
Review of the storm water fund, including the drainage master plan and the implementation of a new billing system.
Sustainable Landscaping Pilot
Discussion of a pilot program for sustainable landscaping at six locations.
Street Tax (Fund 065)
Review of the dedicated sales tax for streets, parks, trails, and sidewalks, including specific projects like trail lighting, pool liner, and public transportation.
Emergency Operations Shelters (Fund 070)
Discussion of the fund for emergency operations, including revenue from sales tax and 911, and expenditures for personnel and software.
Public Works Admin (Fund 075)
Review of the administrative costs for running public works, distributed to enterprise funds.
Fleet (Fund 080)
Discussion of the fleet budget, including personnel, capital outlay for service trucks and equipment, and fuel costs.
Surplus Property (Fund 085)
Review of the surplus property fund, where departments sell old items to supplement capital outlay.
Activity Fund (Fund 115)
Discussion of the activity fund, which includes gate fees, rental fees, and donations for park facilities and programs.
Parks and Recreation (Fund 123)
Review of the Parks and Recreation budget, funded by the new sales tax, including projects like Mid-America Park Phase 2, tennis court resurfacing, and Spirit Playground.
Management and Grants (Fund 130)
Discussion of the fund for CDBG programs, including housing rehab, senior social services, and transitional housing.
Capital Improvement Projects (Fund 157)
Detailed review of 190 capital improvement projects, funded by the new sales tax, including 29th Street Bridge engineering, Air Depot reconstruction, and various drainage and infrastructure repairs.
Water Fund (Fund 170)
Review of the water fund, including water system rehabs and the automated meter infrastructure (AMI) replacement project.
Sewer Fund (Fund 180)
Discussion of the sewer fund, including system improvements and the sewer construction project.
Utilities Capital Outlay (Fund 189)
Review of the utilities capital outlay fund, which holds money for the Sooner Town Center loan and sanitation transfer station equipment.
Sanitation Fund (Fund 190)
Discussion of the sanitation fund, including revenue, expenditures, and the challenges of truck acquisition and rate increases for special pickups.
Water Fund (Fund 191)
Review of the water fund after the recent rate increase, focusing on equipment purchases and capital projects.
Sewer Fund (Fund 192)
Discussion of the sewer fund, including the master study and pipe bursting projects.
Utility Authority (Fund 193)
Review of the utility authority fund, primarily for grant money and Soldier Creek Industrial Park site improvements.
Downtown Redevelopment (Fund 194)
Discussion of the downtown redevelopment fund, including land ownership and capital projects like the sewer line extension.
Hotel Conference Center (Fund 195)
Review of the hotel conference center budget, including projected revenue and expenses, and the FF&E Reserve.
STC4 (Fund 200)
Discussion of the STC4 fund, including revenue and administrative services.
Self-Insured Fund Risk (Fund 202)
Review of the self-insured fund for general liability and workers' compensation, including actuary studies and reserves.
Animals Best Friends (Fund 220)
Discussion of the fund for animal welfare, supported by fines and donations.
Hotel Motel (Fund 225)
Review of the hotel/motel tax pass-through fund.
Customer Deposits (Fund 230)
Discussion of the customer deposits fund.
Court Bonds (Fund 235)
Review of the court bonds fund.
Life and Health (Fund 240)
Discussion of the life and health insurance fund, including the approved rate increase and the importance of fund balance for aggregate insurance.
GEO Bonds (Fund 250)
Review of the GEO bonds fund for the hotel and conference center.
2002 GEO Bond (Fund 251)
Discussion of closing out the 2002 GEO bond.
2018 GEO Bond (Fund 252)
Review of the 2018 GEO bond, including remaining funds and potential uses.
2018 GEO Bond (Fund 253)
Discussion of the 2018 GEO bond for the booster station at John Conrad golf course.
2022 GEO Bond (Fund 254)
Review of the 2022 GEO bond for the police fire training facility, including remaining funds for a 911 backup center.
Disaster Relief (Fund 310)
Discussion of the disaster relief fund, its growth, and its use for storm cleanup and property lean management.
Sales Tax Capital Improvements (Fund 320)
Review of the sales tax capital improvements fund, including pass-through for the hotel conference center and transfers to the 157 account.
GEO Bond Debt Service (Fund 350)
Discussion of the GEO bond debt service, noting a decrease in debt and future planning for new GEO bonds.
Sooner Rose TIF (Fund 352)
Review of the Sooner Rose TIF fund, including subsidies and future development plans.
EDA (Fund 353)
Discussion of the Economic Development Authority fund, including Sooner Town Center rent, capital projects, and the D. Mathis agreement.
Hospital Authority (Fund 425)
Review of the Hospital Authority fund, including the Sooner Town Center 2 loan and property acquisition for development.
Hospital Authority Discretionary (Fund 425-950)
Discussion of the discretionary account for economic development purposes, including urban renewal and land held for economic development.
Hospital Authority Grants (Fund 960)
Review of the Hospital Authority grants fund, including the annual target number for grants.