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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPO 5984: BUDGET AMENDMENTCity of Port Arthur Finance Department 1Vlemorandum To: Steve Fitzgibbons, City Manager.. From: Rebecca Underhill, Assistant City Manager - min tration ,- Date:.February 20, 2009 Re: P O 5984 -Budget Amendrrient for Finance Department Reorganization, Rev. Dr. Ransom Howazd St. Project, and West Side Historical Mazker. This budget amendment provides funding in the Finance Department budget, $53,000,. which will enable us to add. another professional position the remainder of this fiscal yeaz (see attached memo regarding department reorganization.). • The bids were received for the widening of Rev. Dr. Ransom Howazd Street: These bids were higher than the funding which was budgeted several yeazs ago for this project. In order to complete the project as recommended by the. Public Works department, an additional $500,000 will be required. This budget amendment willprovide these additional funds. .. This ordinance also increases funding for the West Side Historical marker. This project was originally budgeted at $40,000. Due to increases in the estimates for this work, an additional $30,000 is included in this ordinance, for a total project budget of $70,000. City of Port Arthur Finance Department Memorandum To: Steve Fitzgibbons, City Manager From: Rebecca Underhill, Assistant City Manager ui ration , Date:- February 13, 2009. Re: .Finance Department Reorganization The Finance Department. has been understaffed for many years, and has struggled to keep pace with. the continuous increases in regulations, requirements, and requests for services. We have tried diligently to keep up, knowing that resources were scarce. However, our situation has reached a critical point In thelast three yeazs alone, we have been barraged with: • Hurricane response - Rita - We still have millions of dollars outstanding from FEMA, TDHCA, and other agencies that we must collect and /or close out giant accounting. Gustav / Ike - We are beginning this process,. which is critical. To date the City has spent nearly $10 million which we are responsible to recover from FEMA. We are also fortunate enough to have other funds available; that we will have to deal with. • Expanded Accounting Standards The Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has .promulgated new standazds, . which we are required to follow, that are very technical, and demanding. These standazds require, among other things, detailed records of infrastructure assets. The latest standazd, GASB 45, is requiring us to study and assess our retiree health insurance benefits. Again, this has added demands on our professional staff. • Capital Projects In addition to Hurricane funds we have numerous capital projects underway; from recent bond issues ($19,000,000) and upcoming issues ($8,000,000). Again, more funding means more accounting.work to do. • I appreciate the confidence you and the Council have had in our department's performance. At this point, we must have more staff to perform basic functions: The configuration of professional staff is proposed as follows: - Assistant City Manager - Director of Finance * Controller - Accounting Manager *This position would.be added to bear the responsibility of all accounting functions, including support of grants, budget, capital projects, and financial reporting. P. O. N0.5984 jja 2/I3/09 ORDINANCE NO. AN APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2008 AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 ' AS TO' PROVIDE ADDITIONAL. FUNDING FOR ADDITIONAL STAFF IN THE. FINANCE DEPARTMENT, REVEREND DR. RANSOM HOWARD STREET AND WEST SIDE HISTORICAL MARKER . WHEREAS, in accordance with Article XII, Section 9; of the. City Charter, the City Council may make emergency appropriations from time to time; and WHEREAS, the City Council may make budget amendments for emergencies under Section 102.009 and for Municipal purposes under Section 102.010 Local Government Code. WHEREAS, on September 9, 2008, the City Council approved and' adopted Ordinance 08-94 which appropriated the 2008-2009 budget; and WHEREAS, on November 4,2008, the City Council approved and adopted~Ordinance 08-110 which amended Ordinance 08-94; and WHEREAS, on December 30, 2008, the City Council approved and adopted Ordinance 08-125 which amended Ordinance 08-94; and WHEREAS, on January 13; 2009 the City Council approved Ordinance 09-03 which. amended Ordinance 08-94; and WHEREAS, this amendment is necessary for municipal purposes to meet unusual and unforeseen conditions as delineated in Section 102.009 (c) Local Government Code. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR Section 1. That the facts and opinions in the preamble are true and correct. Section 2. `That the Finance Department budget be increased $53,000 to fund an additional position in the finance department budget, and $530,000 to be transferred to the capital. improvements fund to complete Rev. Dr. Ransom Howard Street and the West Side Historical marker. Section 3. That Section 2 of the Budget Ordinance 08-94 be amended to read: That there be and is hereby appropriated the sum of Fifty One Million, Twenty Thousand, Six `Hundred Thirty Seven Dollars ($51,020,637) to the General Fnnd for the payment of the Operating Expenses, and necessary capital outlay for the City government for the following departments and uses: Department or Use Section 4. Council. Administration $ 2,013,496 City Secretary 952,685 City Attorney 518,597 Finance ~ 3,036,980 Human Resources 678,302 Planning and Grants Management 1,219,589 Community Services 2,041,342 Civic Center 443,902 Parks and Recreation 1,994,055 Library 1,233,818 Police 15,060,688 Fire 9,942,923 Health 980,349 Publio- Works 8,045,311 Transfer to Other Funds 2,858,600 Total $ 51,020,637, That a copy of the caption of this Ordinance be spread upon the minutes of the City Section 5. That this Ordinance shall be effective immediately. READ, ADOPTED, AND APPROVED, this day of February, 2009, A.D., at a Meeting of the City Council of the City of Port Arthur, Texas by the following vote: Ayes:. Mayor Councilmembers: Mayor ATTEST: Terri Hanks -Acting City Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: Mazk~olow, Cit Attome y ~ Obt ~~ APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION: Fitzgibbons, City Manager Rebecca Underhill, CPA Assistant City Manager -Administration