Jamie Brown, Public Works Director
Last night the third discussion was held of the 2nd Draft Budget for 2013/2014.
The good news: Certain revenues are up such as ad valorem by 4% or approximately $259,000; gas tax receipts $13,000; and code fines and related monies $260,000. Our estimated operating budget will be $29,516,000 with a balance forward of $783,960 or a total of $30,299,960 for the upcoming fiscal year. Millage is expected to stay the same as last year.
The bad news: The city is still struggling--fulfilling the department goals with less employees although those employees are making more money. William Waters announced that he has lost 4 employees just recently due to non-competitive salaries and benefits. I always thought our benefits were spectacular when you consider that they are getting anywhere from 50% up to 63% of their salaries in medical insurance, retirements, etc. There was much discussion on pot holes and a hint of special assessments.
The city used a comparison from 6 years ago to today. This is a flawed comparison and they should have used last year's budget or even better, the one of two years ago to this proposed budget for the new fiscal year. This is the only way we can really gauge 1) if the city manager is doing his job, 2) if the departments are working efficiently and where we might have problems.
Jamie Brown, a civil engineer who had served as the city's interim public services director after Joe Kroll, was named director over one year ago. He oversees garbage collection, streets, building maintenance, grounds and cemetery, stormwater, fleet maintenance, and other functions and is doing one heck of a job. He even works with the Department of Corrections which provides 5 workforce inmates and a supervisor who work in our alleyways. Jamie was hired in at that position at $112,486 and hopefully he got a good raise.
All in all, it was a good meeting and the commission actually worked together and asked good questions. Politics was totally out of the equation. City manager, Mike Bornstein, said, "Our goal as a city is to make things work well."
The F.E.M.A fiasco was pushed back and the city will discuss that tonight at the fourth budget discussion starting at 6:00pm before presentations on the golf and beach funds.
10 comments:
Do you hope that all of the workers in his department that do their jobs well also get a raise, or just the guy making $100K +?
I don't "hope" anything other than Jamie getting a salary that reflects his worth. We can't afford to lose any more great people because of insufficient salary.
Employees should get yearly reviews and it will be up to
1. the budget
2. the results of the review
3. Mr. Brown's determination and the CM's.
By just doing your job does not warrant a raise. You are paid to do the damn job. A raise should be for exceptional performance and overall value to the city,,,Look what they all get in benefits, benefits that the taxpayer can't afford to pay or receive themselves.
Get those garbage collectors to stop shouting so early in the morning.
10:18 That was an exceptionally stupid statement.
Why do you think that was stupid? They come rolling in at 6:30 for the recyclables in the morning and it sounds like party time.
maybe the noise comes from all the bottles you consume. its a fact of life services are performed when the least intrusive. how bout when kids are playing, your eating supper, going to bed. this is one of the things that works, lay off.
That was an exceptionally stupid statement at 1:37. F off.
thank you foff works when you have no answer. but, to help you i suggest moving closer to the end of their route which is usually near 2:00p.m. now whose stupid?
1:00 bring your complaint to a commission meeting. everyone needs a laugh. were you serious? meds could help.
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