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Home My Public Portal AboutFiscal Year 2013 Proposed Budget Amendment ToWN OF 163o WATERTOWN Office of the Town Manager Administration Building ' - 149 Main Street Watertown,MA 02472 Phone:617-972-6465 Michael J. Driscoll Fax: 617-972-6404• Town Manager www.watertown-ma.gov townlnLyt@watertown-ma_eov To: Honorable Town Council From: Michael J. Driscoll, Town Manager Date: June 8, 2012 RE: Amendments to Fiscal Year 2013 Proposed Budget Enclosed please find, for your review and consideration, amendments to the Proposed Fiscal Year 2013 Budget. Amendment I To Read Decrease Fire Full Time Salaries $276,817 $5,564,033 0122051 510111 Decrease Fire Overtime $ 29,100 $ 574,850 0122051 510130 Decrease Fire Holiday Pay $ 20,432 $ 403,582 01220,51 510142 Decrease Fire Longevity $ 8,166 $ 165,581 0122051 510143 Decrease Fire EMT Comp $ 11,167 $ 220,571 0122051 510144 Decrease Fire Career Incentive $ 3,622 $ 71,530 0122051 510191 Increase Town Council Reserve $349,304 $1,099,304 01111.52 570780 As you recall, as stated in the Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Message dated April 24, 2012, the recommended Fire Department funding level for Fiscal Year 2013 was $7,811,579 and $365,327 above the revised Fiscal Year 2012 Budget. Monies for a Proposed Fiscal Year 2010-2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Firefighters Association had been included. If an Agreement was not reached prior to the Honorable Town Council's consideration and action on the submitted Fiscal Year 2013 Budget, an Amendment would be brought forward moving those monies to Council Reserve. This Amendment moves the monies for a Proposed Fiscal Year 2010-2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement to Council Reserve. Given this Amendment, the recommended Fire Department funding level is $7,462,275, a decrease of$349,304 from the recommended funding level on April 24, 2012 and $16,023 above the revised Fiscal Year 2012 Budget of$7,446,252. Once an Agreement is reached on a Fiscal Year 2010-2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement, I will respectfully request a transfer of funds be considered. Amendment II To Read Decrease Library Time Salaries $ 41,693 $1,090,474 0161051 510111 Decrease Library Part Time Salaries $ 15,093 $ 484,044 0161051 510112 Increase Town Council Reserve $ 56,786 $1,156,090 011115 570780 As you recall, as stated in the Fiscal Year 201-3 Budget Message dated April 24, 2012, the recommended Library funding level for Fiscal Year 2013 was $2,344,462 and $119,302 above the revised Fiscal Year 2012 Budget. Monies for a Proposed Fiscal Year 2010-2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Library Union had been included. If an Agreement was not reached prior to the Honorable Town Council's consideration and action on the submitted Fiscal Year 2013 Budget, an Amendment would be brought forward moving those monies to Council Reserve. This Amendment moves the monies for a Proposed Fiscal Year 2010-2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement to Council Reserve. Given this Amendment, the recommended Library funding level is $2,287,676, a decrease of$56,786 from the recommended funding level on April 24, 2012 and$62,516 above the revised Fiscal Year 2012 Budget of$2,225,160. Once an Agreement is reached on a Fiscal Year 2010-2013 Collective Bargaining Agreement, I will respectfully request a transfer of funds be considered. Amendment II1 To Read Increase Library Full Time Salaries $ 85,859 $1,176,333 0161051 510111 Decrease Library Part Time Salaries $ 75,11S $ 408,926 0161051 510112 Decrease Library Longevity $ 8110 $ 27,351 0161051 510143 Decrease Project Literacy $ 9,931 $ 13,069 0161051 570735 As you recall, Leone Cole, Library Director offered remarks (see attachment) during the Fiscal Year 2013 Library Budget Presentation at the May 29, 2012 Committee of the Whole Budget Hearing. This Amendment will allow for the recruitment of a full-time Supervisor of Project Literacy and the consolidation of the temporary clerical position in Project Literacy with a part-time position in the Circulation Department to make one full-time permanent position. As indicated in the attached remarks, Ms. Cole believes "these changes show that the commitment to providing literary services to the community is a top priority for the Trustees and staff." Amendment IV To Read Decrease Transfer from Victory Field Revolving Fund (Revenue) $45,000 $ 0 Decrease Debt- Short Term Interest $45,000 $533,675 0171000 590925 As you are aware, the attached correspondence from Thomas J. Tracy, Town Auditor is related to the upcoming Bond Sale which includes both permanent and temporary borrowing for the Victory Field Renovation Project. This Amendment is in accordance with Bond Counsel requirements whereby the $45,000 will be used to lower the overall borrowing for the Victory Field Renovation Project. In closing, the Proposed Fiscal Year 2013 Revenues and Expenditures will be each decreased by $45,000 as a result of these Amendments. Therefore, the Proposed Fiscal Year 2013 Revenues and Expenditures are $102,261,000. cc: Honorable School Committee Honorable Library Board of Trustees All Department Heads FY2013 Budget Presentation to the Town Council Good evening. I am pleased to report that thanks to the support from the Town Council and Town Manager, the library continues to be a vital force in the community and very well used. Expanded Friday evening hours have been a success and appreciated by our patrons and we are pleased to see that the manager has recommended that they be funded throughout the year. The numbers remain strong. Circulation is up about 1% over last fiscal year. Since August 2006 when we opened after the renovation, circulation has increased 40%. We are on track to loan out 640,000 items this fiscal year. But that number does not tell the whole story of how we serve the community. We answer reference questions and provide databases for research, we have storytime for children, we provide literacy classes for new immigrants, we hold computer and job search classes, we host book discussion groups, movie nights, and we provide the latest technologies like Kindles and downloadable audio and ebooks, just to name a few of the valuable services provided to the community. But we don't rest on our laurels. As you saw in our most recent long-range plan, we aim high and are always looking for ways to serve the community better. One of those ways is to improve our online presence. Six months ago we began a major overhaul of our website and I am pleased to report that it will be ready to launch on July 1. In addition to a more user-friendly interface, the site will be much more interactive and include a community calendar where residents can post meetings and events. Another online initiative we are currently working on is a collaboration with the Boston Public Library in which we will be able to digitize our historical maps and provide access to them through our website at no cost to us. Another exciting online development is that we are one of the first public libraries in the country to work with Google on providing indoor navigation for our building. That should be available within the next few weeks. As a follow up to last year's budget hearing and vote, the new print and computer time management system is working well, including financing of the system through the revolving account. We plan to introduce wireless printing in the new fiscal year. As you are aware, Project Literacy recently celebrated their 25t" year of helping new immigrants learn English. It started as a small volunteer tutoring program and has grown into a fully integrated department of the library. Shortly after the 25t" anniversary celebration, Sue Viskin, the Supervisor of Project Literacy announced her retirement after 23 years of service to the program. I am sure you join me in wishing her a happy and healthy retirement. As we move forward to fill Sue's position, there is an opportunity to strengthen the program even more. With outside commitments, Sue was unable to commit to a full-time job during her tenure, so at this point, recruiting a full-time supervisor is possible. Also possible with a full-time supervisor, is the consolidation of the temporary clerical position in Project literacy with a part-time position in the Circulation department to make one full-time permanent position. While Sue's shoes will be hard to fill, an increased number of professional hours in the department is sure to be a benefit. I believe these changes show that the commitment to providing literacy services to the community is a top priority for the Trustees and staff. In regard to our requests for additional funding, we are pleased to see that additional custodial hours have been recommended. With more than 30,000 a month attendance, the building needs a lot of maintenance. We will also continue to advocate for additional hours open to meet the needs of our patrons. As you may be aware, my assistant director, Beverly Shank is retiring next month. I want to thank her for her 13 years of service to the Watertown community and for 40 years of public librarianship. Happy and healthy retirement Beverly— it is well deserved! In conclusion, thank you for your continuing support. A community that supports its public library, in my opinion, values the quality of life of its residents. TOWN OF WATERTOWN 1630 Auditor z` y Administration Building 149 Main Street Watertown,MA 02472 Phone: 617-972-6460 Fax: 617-972-6563 www.watertown-ma.gov Thomas J.Tracy Town Auditor TO: Michael J. Driscoll,Town Manager FROM: Thomas J. Tracy,Town Auditor DATE: June 5, 2012 ; RE: FY 2012 Transfer of Funds Request As you are aware,the FY 2012 Budget included a General Fund Revenue Source entitled Transfer.from Victory Field Revolving Fund in the amount of$60,000. Additionally,the FY 12 General Fund Short Term Interest expenditure account included$60,000 for debt service(principal and interest)related to the Victory Field Renovation. The $60,000 amount included in the Short Terre Interest expenditure account will not be needed in FY 2012. As you are also are aware,the Town is preparing to go to the bond market this month to borrow funds related to a number of recent loan authorizations approved by the Honorable Town Council, including the Victory Field Renovation project. Bond Counsel has advised that the wording of the Victory Field Loan Order requires that the monies from the Victory Field fundraising activities must be used to reduce the overall amount borrowed (principal only) for the renovation project. Therefore, I am recommending that you request the Honorable Town Council to approve a transfer from the FY 2012 Short Term Interest Account to the FY 2012 Transfer to Town Capital Project Funds in the amount of$60,000 at the June 12, 2012 Town Council meeting. Upon the Town Council approving this transfer,the $60,000 will be placed in the Victory Field Renovation Capital Project Fund. Additionally,I am recommending that the FY 2013 General Fund Proposed Budget (revenue and expenditure)be reduced by$45,000. The FY 2013 Proposed Revenue account entitled Transfer from Victory Field Revolving Fund can be reduced by $45,000. Additionally, the FY 2013 General Fund Proposed Expenditure account entitled Short Term Interest can be reduced by$45,000. This recommendation is also based upon Bond Counsel advice in preparation for the upcoming Bond Sale. The Town will permanently borrow$1,500,000 and temporarily borrow$1,250,000 for the Victory Field Renovation Project. The remaining $250,000 of the overall$3,000,000 project will come from fundraising activities to date and$60,000 of those monies are related to the transfer request. Please see the attached transfer. Please contact me if you have any question or concerns. cc: Honorable Town Council Phyllis L. Marshall, Treasurer Collector