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9.
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| City Council Regular Meeting |
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| BACKGROUND |
In accordance with applicable statutes and the City Charter, the City Manager submitted a budget proposal to the City Council for consideration on August 5, 2022. The City Council held public hearings for the Proposed Budget on August 23, 2022 and, tonight, September 6, 2022.
In the General Fund, Staff has proposed adding up to 24 new positions based on the recommendations of Staff and Council. The positions include:
-3 Firefighters in preparation of station 4
- Fire Inspector to assist with annual fire inspections
- Engineer and Engineering Inspector to assist with city infrastructure projects
- Public Safety Technician and a GIS Specialist to meet the information technology needs of a growing staff and security needs
-3 Parks Maintenance Technicians to assist with the increased number of parks being developed in the City and perform more maintenance on existing parks
- Recreation Coordinator to help provide more city sponsored activities
- Plans Examiner and a Permit Technician to meet the needs of development
- Neighborhood Services Officer to help with code compliance needs
-2 School Police Officers requested and paid for by the School District
- Traffic Officer to help with the growing city
- Records Specialist in Police, a Parts Clerk in Fleet to help manage the vehicles
- Part Time Programing Specialist in the Library to help with the popular events held at the library
- Convert 2 10-hour positions to 2 20-hour positions at the library to help visitors
- Event Attendant to assist set up and clean the Civic and Community Centers when there are events
Also in the General Fund are the following programs, projects, and equipment that are new:
-Building 27 Parking Lot for vehicle and equipment storage space
-Additional Roadway Maintenance Funds
-Internet and fiber upgrades on the City's network due to its age
-eProcurement software to accept bids online which should allow for more competitive bids
-Replace the Police Records Management Software to meet the data driven needs of operations
-Restart the Library Hotspot program to provide a home internet solution to families,
-Acquire the Cellebrite system for Police to speed up investigation timelines by being able to review cellphone data in house
-Replace body armor for the SWAT team
-Purchase a 600 gallon Emulsion Tank that will store more oil used for road repair projects and make operations more efficient
-Purchase additional public safety radios to hand out to key employees during events or emergencies to ensure good communication
-Update and add security cameras at public safety buildings
-Purchase additional library materials
-Increase the cleaning contract for emergency cleanings at the library
-Upgrade the inventory and work order software used by public works that is no longer being supported by the developer
-purchase a hard drive shredder for IT and reduce service costs of outsourcing
-Provide Office 365 training to employees to better utilize the software
-Install noise mitigation tiles at the library to reduce sound inside the study rooms
-Provide annual trail funding to design and construct new trails
-Purchase a skid steer with a mulch head
-Purchase new breaching tools and shields for the Police
-Provide for additional job advertisements and hiring incentives
-Providing funding to start the Cibolo Creek Clean Up Program
The Emergency Medical Services team is proposing to add 8 new paramedics/EMTs to add another active ambulance on the road and to switch from 24 hours shifts to 12 hour shifts due to health concerns in the industry. These positions will be offset by increased revenue from having more ambulances on the road and savings in overtime with the change from 24 hour shifts. They are also proposing to add a mental health canine for staff to address mental health concerns caused on the job.
The Water & Sewer Fund is proposing to add utility bill text messaging services for notifications of pending bill due dates to help citizens avoid late penalties with a helpful reminder. They are also proposing to add Water/Sewer Gems software to keep an updated model of water and sewer needs as the city grows to help predict and plan for infrastructure needs. Lastly, they are proposing to purchase a mobile bypass pump to keep the water/sewer system operational if there is a mechanical or electrical failure at the existing pumps.
Staff also proposes to raise salaries for all departments by 3% across the board for inflation. In addition, staff making less than $53,000 would get an additional 4%, staff making between $53,000 and $75,000 would receive an additional 2%, and staff over $75,000 would receive 1% additional. This program will replace the standard 2% merit program this year temporarily.
A copy of the proposed budget is available for view on the City’s webpage www.schertz.com. This copy will include all changes included in the change memo.
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| GOAL |
| Per state statutes and the City Charter, the city must adopt a budget prior to the beginning of the fiscal year beginning on October 1st. |
| COMMUNITY BENEFIT |
This budget will provide for additional resources to areas identify by citizens, city council, and staff.
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| SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDED ACTION |
| Staff recommends that the City Council approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 22-T-30, adopting the budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2022, and ending September 30, 2023. |
| FISCAL IMPACT |
| General Fund |
$44,376,036 |
| Tax I&S Fund |
8,686,248 |
| Water & Sewer Fund |
26,850,237 |
| Capital Recovery - Water |
44,000 |
| Capital Recovery - Sewer |
52,500 |
| Drainage Fund |
1,439,807 |
| EMS Fund |
11,719,662 |
| SEDC |
10,050,960 |
| Special Events Fund |
24,000 |
| PEG Fund |
60,000 |
| Hotel Occupancy Fund |
272,915 |
| Park Fund |
125,000 |
| Tree Mitigation |
70,000 |
| Roadway Impact Fee Area1 |
5,000 |
| Roadway Impact Fee Area2 |
55,000 |
| Roadway Impact Fee Area3 |
5,000 |
| Roadway Impact Fee Area4 |
3,000 |
| Library Fund |
22,200 |
| Historical Committee |
11,750 |
| Total: |
$103,873,315 |
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| RECOMMENDATION |
| Staff recommends that the City Council approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 22-T-30, adopting the budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2022 and ending September 30, 2023. |
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