5/3/13 - The revised $7.4 million general fund budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 approved by the Brighton City Council Thursday night will result in a projected surplus of $195,000. That's a substantial increase over the $72,000 fund balance contained in the previous proposed budget. The increase in the projected fund balance for next year was accomplished by an amendment approved by council which contained several changes to cut costs. They include a goal of a cap of a 1.5% pay increase for the three unions which will be negotiating new contracts with the city this summer, including the Department of Public Services, the Police Department unions and city clerical workers. Also the city will pursue agreement with three employee groups to pay 5% toward the MERS retirement system. Currently, only the clerical employee union and non-union city administrative employees contribute toward their retirement costs. Council also agreed to eliminate their aircards, saving $3,400. Aircards are a type of wireless broadband modem used for connecting to cellular networks and provide roaming access to the Internet from mobile computers outside the range of Wi fi hotspots. City Manager Dana Foster says the expenditure side of the budget will be increased slightly with council agreeing not to charge city users a proposed 2% increase in the refuse pickup fee, saving residents $3.36 per year. The city will save costs by not filling two vacant positions in the Department of Public Services. Council Members Jim Bohn and Larry Schillinger repeated their opposition to leaving the positions unfilled, saying it will make it more difficult for the DPS to maintain the current level of service. Bohn also repeated his call on the city to eliminate the position of DDA and Community Development Director Matt Modrack and his assistant, Lauri French. He called these eliminations preferable to not filling the two vacant DPS positions, prompting a debate with others on council. (TT)
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