AGENDA #6a

MEMORANDUM

TO:                  Mayor and Town Council

FROM:            W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

SUBJECT:       Recommended Budget Ordinance for 2001-2002

DATE:             June 25, 2001

INTRODUCTION

Attached is a recommended budget ordinance for 2001-2002 reflecting the items discussed by the Council in budget work sessions and agreed upon by the Council at its final work session on June 13.

The items as noted below would allow the Council to adopt a budget for 2001-2002 with an effective increase of 1.5 cents in the General Fund tax rate (setting a rate of 46.l cents), and an effective increase of .7 cents in the Transportation Fund tax rate (setting a rate of 4.3 cents). With these changes, the combined tax rate would be 50.4 cents for 2001-2002, a net decrease of 7.3 cents from the current rate of 57.8 cents.

Below is a brief summary of key actions decided by the Council for the General, Transportation, Capital Improvement and Vehicle Replacement Funds as discussed during budget work sessions. The amounts allocated for pay increases in the General and Transportation Funds were reduced by $224,000 as approved by the Council.  These amounts are being held in the non-departmental accounts pending a final decision by the Council on pay options.

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED CHANGES

General Fund

The General Fund budget recommended for 2001-2002 would continue most services as in the current year.  Fees for commercial garbage collections services would be charged as approved by the Council during the budget work sessions.  The recommended budget also includes funding to provide full Town services to the Southern Village and Notting Hill areas annexed effective June 30, 2001. About $1,370,000 for these costs (offset by estimated annexation revenues) initially included in a reserve account has been allocated to the appropriate departments within the General Fund.

Below is a list of changes in the General Fund budget that are reflected in the attached revised budget ordinance based on the Council’s discussions in budget work sessions and the Council’s actions at the work session on June 13.

·         176,000    Pay plan reductions based on Council discussion at budget work session.

·         180,000    Estimated additional sales tax revenue due to population change with the                              2000 Census.

·         105,000    Estimated additional Powell Bill revenue due to population change with                          the 2000 Census.

·         236,000    Additional net revenue from commercial garbage collection fees.

·           35,000    Estimated additional revenue from Cable Franchise fees.

·         (90,000)    Reduction in vehicle replacement costs based on change in financing                              terms.

·         (85,000)    Funding of Public Works lube pit and vehicle washing from 1996 bond                          funds.

·        (100,000)   Use of lease-purchase financing for Town Hall generator.

·          (58,000)   Funding Library capital maintenance items with a capital contribution from                      the Library Gift Fund.

·          (85,000)   Reductions in allocations for Town Hall carpet replacement and a space                                    needs study.

·          (65,000)   Deletion of funding for Construction Manager position.

·           50,000    Increase in funding for sidewalks in the Capital Improvements Fund.

·           25,000    Increase to pay for $1 added to Landfill fee proposed by County, for a total                  increase of $3.

·           72,000    Increase in Grants to Others as approved by the Council.

With these adjustments as listed above, the revised General Fund budget for 2001-2002 would total $36,725,000, with a General Fund tax rate of 46.1 cents.

Transportation Fund

The recommended Transportation Fund budget for 2001-2002 would also provide transit services in the newly annexed areas, new services as requested by the University and Carrboro, the addition of 10 new buses, and the provision of fare-free service effective January 1, 2002, all approved by the Council during budget works sessions.

For the Transportation Fund budget, the adjustments approved by the Council during budget works sessions are as follows:

·        48,000     Pay plan reductions based on Council discussion at budget work session.

·        88,000      Estimated Town share of additional operating assistance anticipated in 2001-2002.

·        20,000      Additional cost for Town’s share of F Route service extension

With these changes, the revised Transportation Fund budget for 2001-2002 totals $8,973,000, with a Transportation tax rate of 4.3 cents.

Capital Improvements Fund

The Capital Improvements Fund budget would be adjusted for the deletions and additions of items as discussed above in the General Fund section.  With these adjustments, the revised Capital Improvements Fund budget for 2001-2002 totals $1,155,500.

Library Gift Fund

Funding the proposed Library capital improvements of $58,000 from the Library Gift Fund as noted above would increase the total Library Gift Fund budget for 2001-2000 by $58,000, from $45,000 to $103,000.

Vehicle Replacement Fund

With the reduction in vehicle replacement costs of $90,000 as noted above in the General Fund section, the Vehicle Replacement Fund budget for 2001-2002 would also be reduced by $90,000, resulting in a revised total budget of $2,789,600.

Other Funds

For other funds, there were no changes from the recommended budget.

RECOMMENDATION

That the Council adopt the attached budget ordinance for 2001-2002 reflecting actions agreed to by the Council during budget work sessions.


                                BUDGET ORDINANCE

AN ORDINANCE CONCERNING APPROPRIATIONS AND THE RAISING OF REVENUE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING JULY 1, 2001 (2001-06-25/O-5)

BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the Town of Chapel Hill, the following appropriations are hereby made:

                                                                      ARTICLE I

GENERAL FUND

Department                                                                                 Department Total

Mayor/Council                                                                                       225,375

Town Manager/Town Clerk                                                                    921,814

Personnel                                                                                              525,850

Finance                                                                                               1,286,534

Legal                                                                                                     210,448

Planning                                                                                                885,275

Inspections                                                                                            597,545

Engineering                                                                                            923,386

Public Works                                                                                       9,423,656

Police                                                                                                 8,615,239

Fire                                                                                                     4,593,203

Parks and Recreation                                                                           1,990,911

Library                                                                                                1,811,099

Non-Departmental                                                                               4,714,665

     GENERAL FUND TOTAL                                                     36,725,000

OTHER FUNDS

Transportation Fund                                                                             8,973,004

Transportation Capital Reserve Fund                                                       432,112

Debt Service Fund                                                                               2,423,000

Vehicle Replacement Fund                                                                   2,789,600

Fleet Maintenance Fund                                                                         837,572

Computer Replacement Fund                                                                  300,000

Public Housing Fund                                                                            1,470,858

Housing Loan Trust Fund                                                                       252,000

On-Street Parking Fund                                                                          626,500

Off-Street Parking Facilities Fund                                                         1,107,000

Cablevision Public Access Fund                                                                90,000

Library Gift Fund                                                                                   103,000

Capital Improvements Fund                                                                  1,155,500

Downtown Service District Fund                                                              68,000

     TOTAL ALL FUNDS                                                              57,353,146


5

                                                                      ARTICLE II

It is estimated that the following revenues will be available during the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2001 and ending June 30, 2002 to meet the foregoing appropriations.  It is determined that where estimated revenues are higher than the previous year, the increases were warranted.

GENERAL FUND

            Property Taxes                                                                                  17,984,000

            Other Taxes & Licenses                                                                        998,000

            State-Shared Revenues                                                                      11,980,000

            Grants                                                                                                   429,000

            Charges for Services                                                                           1,371,100

            Licenses/Permits/Fines                                                                        1,445,500

            Interest on Investments                                                                          440,800

            Other Revenues                                                                                     223,600

            Transfers/Other Sources                                                                      1,053,000

            Fund Balance Appropriated                                                                    800,000

            General Fund Total                                                                      36,725,000

OTHER FUNDS

Transportation Fund                                                                             8,973,004

Transportation Capital Reserve Fund                                                       432,112

Debt Service Fund                                                                               2,423,000

Vehicle Replacement Fund                                                                   2,789,600

Fleet Maintenance Fund                                                                         837,572

Computer Replacement Fund                                                                  300,000

Public Housing Fund                                                                            1,470,858

Housing Loan Trust Fund                                                                       252,000

On-Street Parking Fund                                                                          626,500

Off-Street Parking Facilities Fund                                                         1,107,000

Cablevision Public Access Fund                                                                90,000

Library Gift Fund                                                                                   103,000

Capital Improvements Fund                                                                  1,155,500

Downtown Service District Fund                                                              68,000

     TOTAL ALL FUNDS                                                              57,353,146


6

ARTICLE III

There is hereby levied the following tax on each one hundred dollars ($100) valuation of taxable property, located within the Town of Chapel Hill, as listed for taxes as of January 1, 2001 for the purpose of raising revenue from property tax as set forth in the foregoing estimates of revenues, and in order to finance the foregoing appropriations.

General Fund

(for the payment of expenses of

the Town of Chapel Hill)                                                                                                $0.461/$100

Transportation Fund

(for the payment of expenses related to

transportation approved by referendum)                                                                          $0.043/$100

TOTAL                                                                                                                           $0.504/$100

                                                                     ARTICLE IV

There is hereby levied the following tax on each one hundred dollars ($100) valuation of taxable property located in the Downtown Revitalization Municipal Service District established by the Town Council's resolution of June 12, 1989:

Downtown Service District Fund                                                                                       $0.062/$100

This the 25th day of June, 2001.