City Council - Regular Meeting

I hadn't had a pay increase since, I was told since it was established, so it's probably time for that. And then, you know, we always go back and forth with the wages paid for temporary and seasonal staff, you know, to make sure that we have applicable staffing going forward, we need to be giving them something as well. But anyway, the other change to the pay scale here, or the pay scale table was I wanted to quantify the asterisk there with that additional 2.5% that was carved out. I believe that was two years ago that was done with a wage review with other applicable cities of our size. So that's an additional 2.5% on that last pay step in the scale. So that is also on here this year as well. and just a couple of the actual positions that changed around here. The only new position that's on here is the Communications Center Office Associate at the JCC. That, my understanding was that doesn't impact budget actually at all because they eliminated one of the dispatch positions for that because they determined that the duties of that person could be done or could have a separate position that's less than the dispatcher position. So that's kind of just clarification there. And then the other places that moved around was on the police and fire. Both the assistant fire chief and the fire chief as well as then the community service technicians at the police department and then the police chief and police captains. Those wages, they have a wage study done every year with applicable similar sized cities and it found that they were behind on some of these. So like the police chief and captain, the wage study was done using the same formula that they use to negotiate wages through the union. It said this study indicated that Columbus chief and captains are paid less than every other city except Beatrice, which is half the size. That same methodology was used by the fire department. So what I meant to say here is that those, each one of those positions was granted an increase from one pay grade to the next one up. So that is all reflected in here as well. I think that was the main changes to the pay plan. Was there any specific questions on any of these?

I've got a quick question on other positions. I just was reviewing it and it came up, but if you look at other positions prosecuting attorney through 3-4-25 and I didn't understand what the parentheses through 3-4-25 was and how it affected that position and pay. That's a good question.

So that would be the Platt County attorney agreement that we have and it was extended so that's probably a little edit that we need to make there. Good catch. We did extend that.

That's all under contract, I believe. We can make that a quick fix there. Any other questions or concerns?

I'll make a motion. I'll make a motion to adopt a pay plan.

Second.

We have a motion and a second to adopt a pay plan. Let's vote all in favor of aye, all opposed nay. Motion passes. I'll move on to 3C, capital improvement plan.

Okay. This has been in front of everybody many, many times this year, going back and forth on certain things. So I don't know how much detail we want to go in on this. The one thing I did want to point out was with this final plan, as you all know, the capital improvements are funded most entirely by 1% sales tax. And over the last few years, the sales tax has been decreasing and fund balance because it was the city council's decision, I believe, a few years ago to start spending that up, getting it down, putting that into our capital improvements. So with that being said, we've come to that point where the majority of that cash has been used up. So last year's 1% sales tax that was allocated to capital improvements was $7 million. This year we dropped back to $5.5 million. so again that's been previously discussed at the other meetings that we've had but that's reflected here on the capital improvement plan um the rest of everything else at least for the enterprise funds that's all funded with what's built in with the rates so that is not impacted by the one percent sales tax um and then the other funding for these comes from highway and the federal funds purchase program as well as other federal, state, and local grants, which is also shown in the red numbers in the center. So, was there any specific questions on this? Like I said, I know we've all seen it tons of different times here.

Make a motion. Make a motion to adopt the capital improvement plan.

Second.

We have a motion and a second to adopt the capital improvement plan. Please vote. All in favor, aye. All opposed, nay. Motion passes. We'll move on to 3D, budget.

Okay, so the big topic here, the budget for 26-27. So I think the first thing that historically has always gone over was the sales tax receipt by type. This is, if you scroll all the way to the final page, the final two pages. So this one we're right there. So this is the actuals for this year so far, not including September. And it shows the breakdown of where everything's coming from. So whether it's motor vehicle sales taxes that split between the 1% and the half percent and where it's going to in terms of capital improvements or to the economic development plan, the LB 840. So then if you scroll to the next page is what we're budgeting for for this year. And again, this gets pretty difficult to kind of think about what we're going to be receiving, but kind of go off of actuals that have been collected with what we think we may get going forward. One of the wrenches that gets thrown into this is that Nebraska Advantage Act, the refunds that get paid out with that. Last year in 25-26 was pretty substantial refunds. This year has been a lot less, but we only get, I believe it's 12 months notice on that. And if a refund is over 25% of the revenues in any given year, then the state has to reduce it in 12-month payments rather than lump sums. But nonetheless, that stuff is really hard to guesstimate on. So budget pretty conservatively. especially now that the 1% sales tax has been dwindled down. We have to make sure that whatever we're going to collect is what we can spend, not, you know, whereas if we collected a little bit less, we had some cash to fall back on, which we're not at zero by any means, but it's getting to a tighter point. Is there any questions on the sales tax receipts by type? I mean, it's pretty similar to prior years, so it shouldn't be too big a deal. Okay, if not, the history of the sales tax. This has been included in previous years. There's actually no changes to this this year. There was a change to it in the previous year, but I believe there is a change to the 1% coming up here in April this next year on what it can be used for. But other than that, this has not changed since the prior year. So any questions on that? If not, you can move. Okay, here's the budget report. So this is the full-on report out of our BSNA software, what we use to do all this budgeting. So there's a lot of information here and different pieces of it summarized differently. But back on, let's see, what date was that? I believe it was August 24th. We had a meeting with the council and management about what we wanted to do for this year. So What it came down to is with the law changes last year with the pink postcard meeting, the budget, it used to be that you could basically increase up to your 45 cents cap on your levy. However, now you are restricted to specific increases based on your prior year tax asking. So last year you guys attended the pink postcard meeting and you took the full amount that was allowed. Now you can increase by your real growth plus 2% and not have to attend the joint county meeting for setting tax requests. So this year the real growth was 2.46%, and then our 2% that we get on top of for the state is an increase of 4.46% on the property tax asking. Now if you exceed that, you have to attend the pink postcard meeting with the county, which is, I believe, on September 21st. It was decided that we did not want to do that this year. So I notified the county and said that we were not going to be attending. So now the notification deadline of that was on Friday last week. So that meeting we are now not a part of. But with that being said, just some of the generalized numbers here of what the increase in the budget is, is the 4.46% that we're allowed to increase now not attending the pink postcard meeting is an additional $337,000 and change in actual property tax asking. The valuation here in Columbus actually increased by 6.05%. So anytime that your valuation increases more than what your tax asking is, your levy is actually going to decrease. which is exactly what's happening this year. So our levy is actually decreasing from almost exactly 29 cents to about 28.6 cents per $100 evaluation, which is a 1.5% decrease. Now, where this really landed here after hammering out all the numbers and running everything, getting together with department heads, everybody putting together and culminating everything that we needed to look at here, The budget, we are actually short this year about, and I think Shrey's got pulled up there, about $327,000 that are, again, it's a budget, so it's an estimate. It's never going to be perfect, but with the estimated expenses that we need based upon the estimated revenues and then the difference being made up with property taxes, we're actually short about $326,000. So now it was decided that we would utilize our cash reserve for this year to cover that and then discuss potential cutting of services for next year to balance the budget. So that is the overall grand scheme of things here. The tax asking increase, even though the levy is going down, your tax asking is increasing. It's about $14.23 on a $100,000 house $200,000 would be about $26 and $300,000 would be like $39. So that's the tax impact on a taxpayer based on those levels of valuation on their homes. Trying to think what else I was going to point out here. So by, the only other thing would be by not going to the pink postcard meeting, we forego about $250,000 of taxes. Even with the pink postcard, based on what we need for the budget, just on general operating expenses that we cannot avoid, we were still going to come up short. Some of our biggest changes this year was property and casualty insurance. Insurance has gone through the roof for everybody. It's really hard to deal with some of those things when we just can't avoid some of those expenses. Excuse me. With that being said, does anybody have any specific questions or comments on what's been done so far?

Chris, I just wanted to thank you. I don't have any questions, but you did a very good job at explaining everything detailed. I appreciate it. I'm always here for questions. Any other questions or comments from the council?

Just a comment about the pink card.

Is that according to the rules of Ross?

Next year, we're going to have to... Do the pink card whether we want to or not.

Yeah, but so that is actually the new law. I believe it's LB 847. There's two new laws that are in play here. And I went to a municipal conference, the government finance conference in Lincoln earlier this year that's all the finance directors and things and you stay up on the new rules and regulations. And from what I took from that, it was still kind of in the works, but The pink postcard meeting is no longer you go after you have your budget basically set and have to explain your reasoning for everything in front of the public. It's actually moving earlier into, I believe it has to be done before early July. So it's going to be the meeting is going to be way before evaluations come out and it's more, from my understanding, is an explanation of what it is that your process is and your reasoning is for budgeting rather than what it is that you're doing and you have to go and explain why it is that you're exceeding those limitations for the state. So that's my understanding of it so far. I don't know if they put out any further guidance. I don't know if you know, Tara.

No, they haven't. You correctly... gave the information, but I would say that, um, even the league of municipality, you know, when that bill went through, we really tried to educate the legislature on the fact that in June, July, we don't know a whole lot about how the budget's going to develop because we don't have property tax numbers and we're just beginning the process of reviewing capital improvement. And it's already pretty early. I mean, we start that about halfway through the fiscal year. So, um, I don't know what the new pink postcard legislation will be about, but anybody, any entity who levies a tax has to go.

Yep. If you ask for a dollar in tax asking, you have to attend the meeting. And it has to be, if I remember right, they said it's the mayor and one council member, I believe, that has to go to that. So I'll come out with more information on that as it gets passed out. Pick who goes tonight.

Well, I can assure you who all will be going. But I can also tell you that the whole pink postcard concept was government at its best. The concept was good. What they've evolved with is terrible because you're taking a budget that's now pretty well done and going and letting people now complain about it and have input. And that's part of the reason why we've come out and said we have four different public meetings so people can come and have input. You know, the idea was to get the people involved. Well, what's going to happen is they're going to come to this meeting in two weeks whenever it's scheduled, and then they're going to complain that they didn't know any of this stuff was happening and it's being presented to them. But that's the way it's written. Now, they've rewritten it, and they want to have this great meeting in June, and we don't get our evaluations till August. So that's kind of like, you know, giving your kid his allowance and letting him tell you how he wants to spend it. You know, come on. But we have to live by those rules. And I do want to just correct one thing, Chris. I mean, I loved your presentation. I think you did a great job. Don't want the public to feel that we made major decisions based on not going to a meeting We went last year. I would go this year We did not have to we made budget decisions that allowed us not to and those were the that's where we are today You know, I I think none of us want to go to anything. We don't have to go to But I've sat in front of people and had discussions many, many different times. And if that would have been what we needed to do to present the budget that we believed our community needed, we would have done it. We have a budget that this community will live with and we are very comfortable with. And that's what's being presented. But again, thank you for all your time and your effort on putting it together, Chris, and your staff and all of the staff.

It's been a pretty big undertaking, but it's good. You really get into the depths of everything that's going on here at the city. There was one more thing I was going to mention here. Oh, yes. Last year, attending the pink postcard meeting, that meeting takes place of the special hearing to set the tax request. This year, since we're not attending, we have to have our own, and I believe that's September 21st. It's the next meeting that then the budget will actually get adopted, and then we file it. That's the only change in terms of meetings from last year to this year. Anything else? Any other questions, concerns, issues?

Go back real quick and tell me what real growth was and what our... actual growth was? You indicated something like 6% and 2%?

Yeah, so good question. So the overall total increase in valuation this year on actual property values was 6.05%. Now, the growth for Columbus, the real growth, was 2.46%, which actually is pretty decent considering the last few years. And in reality, where we sit, that's kind of truly the only number that really matters. because we use that 2.46% and then we get to take an additional 2%. So that's a total of 4.46% that we can ask for over and above last year's tax asking.

So in essence, real growth meaning new businesses, new homes, new stuff at about 2.5%. Yep. And then inflationary growth increases in valuation due to inflation About 3.5%. Is that totaling 6% total?

Now, there is an inflationary value on the state's budget form. So the state of Nebraska comes out when they issue their budget forms, and they determine what the inflationary value is that they're using on their budget forms. And that this year was 5.26%, I believe. So the difference between the pink postcard meeting and asking for more versus the limitation on the 4.46%, is basically the difference between your 2% or your, excuse me, your 2.46% of your real growth and the inflationary value of 5.26. So technically we could have asked for something in the vicinity of like 7.7 and a half or something like that. So that's why the valuation or excuse me, the levy has actually decreased because valuations increased more than what we are increasing property taxes. So does that answer your question?

Thank you. One other question now on your presentation of sales tax monies and how they are allocated. There's no monies for economic development in the October 17 through September 18.

Go to the next page, Shreya. Okay.

Yeah, that's not the one I'm looking at.

The one previous to that is this year, and it's because the overall total cap on that program is $425,000.

That's 2017, isn't it?

No, the one here that she's got up right now is this current year, $25,000.

Yeah, no, I'm looking at an old one, and I... Had a brain screw up, and it looks like we're talking about 2016. That's right. There's lots of years on here.

All right. So that is something else that changes for this next year, too, is that the $425,000 actually, as of April, I think, moves to $650,000 a year. So I've got that reflected in here as well. Okay. Thank you. Anything else?

Entertain a motion?

So moved.

We have a motion to approve the budget for the fiscal year 26-27. Let's please vote. All in favor, aye. All opposed, nay. Motion passes. Moving on to number four, amendment of section 3101 of Columbus City Code regarding appointments of city officers.

Hello, good evening. Tara Vosacek, city administrator. This is a request that I put forward a couple weeks ago to all of you. Most cities provide a little bit of time should the mayor, should an incoming mayor be changed to get to know staff. and for continuity of service staff to get to know a new mayor. So this is really just a code amendment. I'm recommending that we match Norfolk's language and as I opened it, I actually would say that the or before is not the intention of what I wrote in my memo. I wanted it to be at the first June meeting So then appointed official, and that's not all appointed officials, that's city administrator by state law, city engineer, clerk, treasurer, finance director, are all appointed, required by state law. But you can, by ordinance, set when those appointments take place. So it would still be four-year appointments. It would just start a little later, give the mayor and any new council members time to get to know the existing staff and staff to get to know any new members before those appointments have to be made. If you just think about coming in as a new mayor and at your second meeting, you have to decide who your key staff is, that's pretty quick. And I would think most would want a little bit of time to get to know the system and the people before that decision has to be made. So that is my recommendation. Can I answer any questions?

No questions?

No. Any recommendations? 31-01 be approved.

Second.

As presented.

May I ask for you to amend that with removing the or before?

Yes, removing the old amendment or changing the old amendment. The or before. Or just before.

Okay.

Thank you. We have a motion and a second to recommend the city code section 3101 be approved as presented with the Removing the or before. So let's vote. All in favor, yay. All opposed, nay. Motion passes. Moving on to number five, City of Columbus Code of Conduct for all elected officials and appointed members of the city, board, commission, or committee.

And this code of conduct is really just putting into writing what we all already do. Most other cities have a code of conduct and have for quite some time. I don't think there's anything here that any of us would disagree with is standard professional conduct when you hold a position like this. I would entertain any questions, I'm happy to answer. This is more preventative.

This is not because of any past experiences. Our council president was pointing at me.

It's not, but it is a good tool for us all to remember, you know, best practices.

It's kind of good to read once in a while. Yes.

But I would be happy to answer any questions.

Entertain a motion? Make a motion to... What do you want to do? Code of contact for our elected officials to be approved.

Second. We have a motion and a second. We'll vote. All in favor, aye. All opposed, nay.

Motion passes. You realize you're going to be getting a page to sign here in a few days. No, that's your adoption.

We'll move on to the final item on the agenda, review city council rules.

This final item is just every year we do an update of city council rules. One of the major items is obviously just referencing what we just talked about, that code of conduct. And the other one that's pretty significant change in just the meeting protocol is is going from the city administrator, myself, up at the dais doing all of the agenda reading. We're the only city where that happens, and I think it might give a perception to the public that I have more authority than I do, and I don't think that that's the, you know, was ever the intention, but it certainly gives that. you know, view, that's what it looks like. So I'm suggesting that the mayor, who is by state law responsible for conducting the meeting, read the agenda items. I would of course still be up there and be available for consultation, recommendation, answer any questions. None of that would change. I would still be right there. But just who reads the agenda items would transition to the mayor. The other items in the city council rules are really just housekeeping items, some clarifying language, and some just cleanups with how we actually do some things. I would entertain any questions that you all have.

Yeah, I find it interesting that You know, as far back as I can remember, this is how it's been. And why? I don't know. I mean, I'm assuming at some point some mayor decided they wanted the city administrator to do it or the city administrator just was doing it and everybody was comfortable with it. I mean, the fact that very few or no other our size do it this way, you know, I mean, certainly it makes sense to probably be normal. Well, I guess, yeah.

Seeing no other questions, we have a recommendation. Yeah. We can leave it open for a while.

Have them take a number because there's so many here. We want to make sure we get to them all.

Can you keep them down a little bit?

I mean... That's up to you. I do think, just for the record, the new... Notification meeting. I don't know if it will technically still be a pink postcard But I think one of the nice things about that for us is if people do come to that meeting with Things that they want to talk about with the city's budget it will at the very least I think that's a great opportunity for us to say here's our budget schedule We have four or five meetings that are open to the public. Please come to them That's the best time to have these conversations with us in detail So I do think it will be beneficial in that way, more beneficial than the way it's done now.

But they have to come to that meeting, though. That's the thing. Yes. I think we're still going to have the same number.

you Thank you.

Okay, it's now 545. Our public hearing has been open for 45 minutes, and we are looking for a motion now to close the public hearing.

Motion to close the public hearing.

Second. We have a motion and a second to close the public hearing. Please vote. All in favor, aye. All opposed, nay.

I closed it out, and I vote aye. Thank you.

All right.

Motion passes. Meeting adjourned.