At Long Last, the fun begins…
The manager presented his budget last night. That’s one meeting down and 12 more to go. First blush was that he has done a very thorough job and that always makes the budget process go better. As opposed to the last several years there aren’t a lot of what I’ll call “loose ends” in the budget due to the expectation that revenues will continue to fall over the course of the year. Do recall that when this document was distributed last night was the first time anyone on the Council had seen it. A couple of what I’ll call “top line” items here:
– Manassas continues to have the lowest tax bill among the big jurisdictions NoVA – $400 cheaper than PWC.
– Tax rate will fall but average residential bill will go up 3% (about the same as PWC)
– Commercial tax bills will fall slightly ($276).
– Overall property tax collections will fall slightly but are offset by improving business climate
– Cost of Employee benefits is reduced by ($938,000)
– From FY2009-FY2011 we have shed 44 FTE’s – a fair number for us.
-Employees are awarded an average merit increase of 2.25% (first raise in 3 years and in-line with PWC)
-CIP funding is non-zero for the first time in 2 years.
– Several positions in the PD have been re-staffed with civilian employees and the officers returned to the street.
As this is the first time I’ve seen this stuff, I (and others) will have some questions about some of the things in there. This isn’t unusual and the Manager will explain the above as well as his initiatives in one of the first couple of budget meetings. VERY IMPORTANT to note: the Manager does not “make up” the initiatives out of thin air. These come from the retreats that the City Council conducts (same is true of the communications study we approved last night). Council may disagree with scope or direction of initiatives but they aren’t surprises. The initiatives this time around are building out a STEM academy over at OHS and the other is a Staff training initiative. We’ll hear more about both shortly.
Stuff that needs more explanation during the budget that I don’t know much about:
– Manager has proposed adding 3 batallion chiefs and 3 firefighters.
– Pay and classification study.
– Wellness incentive
– Public Safety compression (actually I do know something about this but we need to really dig into this issue).
There are 13 budget meetings this year. Please come and be edumacated. Here is the budget calendar.
March 1, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Thank you and the council for seeing the big picture, both in communications and crime prevention — two great investments with immediate returns for our city.
So is re-enforcing the dam. I know Agnes came up last night and people kind of scoffed, but two years before the dam was built, there was Camille. That hurricane dumped almost 4 feet of rain in a few hours in Virginia, believe it or not.
http://www.readthehook.com/79908/cover-flooded-memories-nelson-county-37-years-after-camille
March 1, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Looks like it’s up on the “Operating Budget” page.
http://www.manassascity.org/index.aspx?NID=249
March 1, 2011 at 8:11 pm
C:
Have u linkage? I can’t find stats of that magnitude?
March 1, 2011 at 10:32 pm
Andy, if your looking for info on Camille, here is the Encyclopedia Virginia report:
http://www.encyclopediavirginia.org/Hurricane_Camille_August_1969
And an excellent history with info and stats on Virgnia hurricaines going back to 1635:
http://www.vaemergency.com/newsroom/history/hurricane.cfm
March 1, 2011 at 10:41 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_County,_Virginia
March 2, 2011 at 7:42 am
Nelson County is in the Mountains, so to speak. That had a lot to do with the impact of the storm. Now, that being said, sure there is always a risk of a getting a huge amount of rain in a short period of time. But, given the dire needs of the police department, and the increase in taxes, is this really the time to look at dam improvements?
March 2, 2011 at 8:23 am
COM:
I don’t want to sound like a wise guy but this is a state mandate that we’ve been fighting for several years. Yours is a great question for the Governor and our state-level folks.
March 2, 2011 at 4:46 pm
Andy,
Well, I guess we can’t fight the State.
March 2, 2011 at 4:48 pm
Utilities has been fighting it for about 4 years to little effect.
March 2, 2011 at 11:07 pm
“Average merit increase” of 2.25% This of course means that on average all employees are performing 2.25% more efficiently or are 2.25 % more productive than last year. Sounds good to me. When my employees ask for a raise, their logic better include increased efficiency or productivity. “Well, I’ve lasted another year with you” generally doesn’t cut it at review time.
Oh, sorry, government is a little different than an actual business. Granted, when a given department goes from 4 employees to 2, somebody’s doing more work. I wish the city had the revenues to never have to RIF anyone. And give them all a nice raise every year. And an IPad, And a Christmas ham. But we don’t. Sure is nice to have our own supply of water, though. Looks like we get to keep it. That sure beats the headline ” home of Lorena Bobbitt and the City Council who tried to redefine the definition of family loses water in tragic dam failure”
March 3, 2011 at 9:15 am
Possibility for a FREE feasibility study of natural gas vehicles:
Supervisor Stirrup, at the BOCS session this Tuesday, said he had been approached by the Greater Washington Region Clean Cities Coalition (a nonprofit 501(c)(3) funded by Dept of Energy). They are offering to do a FREE study for the County on possible converting a portion of the fleet to natural gas.
The GWRCC (www.gwrccc.org) used to be part of the MWCOG, but now is seperate.
Might be worth checking into to see if they will do one for the City. FREE is good!
March 3, 2011 at 10:48 am
Number of reporters and citizens at the
budget meeting last night? 0, zip,zero.
March 3, 2011 at 1:24 pm
Andy,
I apologize if that response to Mr. Randolph offends anyone. But I’m not a child, and I don’t appreciate being upbraided for lack of interest or concern, in fact, many of us have to take care of our children, something those running the City of Manassas often makes more difficult than it needs to be.
March 3, 2011 at 2:07 pm
Mr. Brown:
I understand your sentiments but I’ve deleted your post – rules is rules. If you care to convey those sentiments to Mr. Randolph please do so privately.
March 3, 2011 at 2:08 pm
Steve, that first session is probably always one where nobody shows up. A run-trough again of what Mr. Hughes gave Monday night, and then flipping through the pages of the budget book. At least, that’s my reason I don’t sit in the Peanut Gallery 🙂
The real action starts Monday night! That’s when the crowds start coming.
And given our local papers wait until something of interest to light up the pages occur, not suprised at no reporters.
March 3, 2011 at 5:20 pm
I still contend the biggest reason citizens don’t come to these budget meeting is the time.
Last night was:
Wednesday March 2, 2011 – City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room
5:30 PM Introduction (Mayor and City Manager)
5:45 PM Overview of Budget (Bergeron/Weiler)
6:45 PM Break
7:00 PM Budget Summary Schedules (Bergeron/Grzejka/Weiler)
8:00 PM Adjourn
People simply can’t make budget meetings that are held while they are still at work, in their hour or more commute home from work, or are in dinner time with family.
BUT, that’s NO EXCUSE for the press not bothering to cover budget meetings. Given the state of “reporting” from our local newspaper, I can’t say I’m surprised though. They’ll probably only show up if someone tips them off that there will be a discussion of KK’s at a particular session. 🙁
Me? I’m just tapped out with work and with what you Andy and Steve likely know I have on my plate coming up middle of this month.
March 3, 2011 at 5:37 pm
David:
I really don’t want to get into this debate but I’ll offer the following:
1. I agree that the press should be there. That’s frustrating.
2. I don’t believe that Council members are put out that citizens don’t attend. I well understand that budgeting is like watching “Lost”: if you don’t start at the begining, you ain’t going to understand it halfway through. It is complicated. I’ld also offer that I appreciate when folks show up to listen or offer reasoned input. It makes my job all that much easier. Steve and the others feel the same way.
However, what does get old is being screamed at by someone who is obviously wrong but can’t be bothered to do any research at all because yelling at Council is just easier. The “Budget in Brief” document would answer about 90% of their questions and is a tri-fold. It is specifically designed to be disgestible. It is also placed outside the doors of all budget meetings. After spending 80+ hours buried in details, those ones are tough to get used to….
I know, we’re elected and this is what we signed up for – I’m a big boy and will take my licks but I would offer that Council members are people too……
March 3, 2011 at 6:58 pm
But yelling is fun. Seriously here is the problem as I see it. People show make suggestions{nicely} and then sees the Council not do anything regarding the suggestion. So people start to ask is it worth it. Oh sure if you have an in with a particular member you stand a chance.
March 3, 2011 at 9:09 pm
Adam Smith once wrote “people are adept at pursing their own self-interests”. Sometimes that is how I see attendance at various Council work sessions to include these budget ones.
Hey, now that we have the Media Center, here’s an idea – put a digital cam in that back corner of the gallery seats, set to wide lens and record the sessions. Then post them for streaming. Don’t need to move the cam around to catch everyone….no need for that. Intent is to catch the session.
This would assist in two ways points made above:
1) for those with time/schedule conflicts, watch when you can. And the local fishwraps can also use them to do their write-ups.
2) meets intent to provide the means where citizens can be informed as the process unfolds.
I do say those times I attend, listen, offer comments afterwards – or make faces during where someone on the Council notices I am miffed – the Mayor & Council do say thanks for being there.
March 3, 2011 at 9:11 pm
The Media Center idea I wrote –
Oh yeah, before somebody goes “Oh pooh pooh” on it, we do it EVERY month when the Prince William Comittee of 100 meets. Panel sessions are recorded and then put up a couple of days later on our website for folks to stream at their leisure.
March 4, 2011 at 12:00 am
Raymond,
Good idea.
One would think the local media would be there, if they took their job seriously. I guess they don’t , and since I have never taken the local paper seriously I have finally find found common ground with the JM.
The timing of the council meetings make it extremely difficult for most people to attend. It really is that simple.
March 4, 2011 at 8:52 am
I guess me and JM are also copy-edited challenged.
March 5, 2011 at 9:28 am
Andy,
Citizenofmanassas is right,…as a citizen you speak up about an issue, the council thanks you and citizen leaves the podium. By the time citizens make it to the podium the decision has been made; we know it and you all know it…so why bother? BTW Prince William County Employees are receiveing no more than a 2% merit increase and this increase is based on your performance. Some employees won’t see that pay increase until next year. Please remember we are a small city not a big jurisdiction so why compare?