Middletown Forum : AGENDA 12-02-2014

AGENDA 12-02-2014 : City officials said the only revenue...

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 13:33:57 +0000

Author: Vivian Moon
Subject: 5907
Posted: Dec 10 2014 at 1:33pm

City officials said the only revenue for the capital improvement fund is a 1 mill property levy that generates about $630,000 a year. The advance will be repaid during 2015 when reimbursements are made.
Hmmm...Isn't this the same 1 mill property levy that can only be used for streets?

AGENDA 12-02-2014 : I would prefer you ask him what...

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 11:55:36 +0000

Author: VietVet
Subject: 5907
Posted: Dec 10 2014 at 11:55am

I would prefer you ask him what is being done to hasten the development of what this city needs most.......HIGH PAYING. LIVABLE WAGE JOBS. Seems to me that the Econ.Dev.Dept is WAYYYYY behind in accruing jobs for this town in comparison to surrounding communities. Has been for decades. Announcing 30 jobs at 12 bucks an hour does not count as an impact-making event. So many times we read where they have made "earth-shattering" news by "creating 30 jobs that will grow to 50 jobs in the next decade". Too little, too late to have any impact on this city's revenue, citizen purchasing power, or citizen disposable income to keep money flowing in this community. Gonna have to have enough companies employing several hundred apiece come to town to fill a decent sized industrial park to have any impact at all. The number of jobs lost over the last 4 decades versus jobs replaced is not close to a 1:1 ratio. Make it a priority one to replace the dam downtown focus.

AGENDA 12-02-2014 : VietVet wrote:Ok Mr. Bohannon,...

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 11:39:36 +0000

Author: Kyle Bohannon
Subject: 5907
Posted: Dec 10 2014 at 11:39am

VietVet wrote:

Ok Mr. Bohannon, let's agree that the below listed comment is correct...

"but my interpretation is that the 200K was moved as an accounting move to right the books before years end since there had been a transfer from the general fund to the public safety fund early, and if the repayment to the general fund had not been made"

Question....why was the money taken from the PUBLIC SAFETY FUND and placed in the GENERAL FUND in the first place, if it was earmarked JUST FOR PUBLIC SAFETY USE? There would have been no need to do all of this transferring if the money would have been kept in it's proper account, right?

And, yes, this city finance department has a history of moving funds from one account to another many times over the course of any given year. A popular practice is to move funds in and out of the General Fund. Some on this site have asked for an explanation as to the movement practices of city finances and have received a convuluted explanation that would confuse a financial wizard. Happened years ago when Councilmembers Tony Marconi and Anita Scott-Jones showed up at a Sunday meeting at the library one time.

Nick Kidd, a forum member could provide some more detail on the city's money movement practices.

I'm just as questioning as you in this matter.

Which money are you referring to as being earmarked. The 200K or the 0.25% ($2.8 million). From the article it seems the 0.25% was/is earmarked while the 200K was 'borrowed', for lack of a better term, from the general fund, and had to be repaid to the general fund. Were both sums earmarked? Was the money originally placed in the public safety fund and not the general fund. I was under the impression that it started in the general fund, with no earmarks attached. If it is as my initial impression, why did the money have to be taken out of the general fund and put into the public safety fund, instead simply being put there in the first place.

That would be great if Mr. Kidd could do that. I would like to increase the knowledge I have of how such finances operate.

Would you like for me to ask this question to City Manager Atkins when I interview him?

AGENDA 12-02-2014 : Posted: 5:35 p.m. Tuesday, Dec....

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 11:23:33 +0000

Author: Vivian Moon
Subject: 5907
Posted: Dec 10 2014 at 11:23am

Posted: 5:35 p.m.Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2014

Middletown prepares to close outits 2014 books

By Ed Richter

Staff Writer

MIDDLETOWN —

Asthe city closes out its books for the year, Middletown City Council approvedseven resolutions for number of supplemental appropriations and fund transfers.Many of the transfers were required to balance out the city’s books as well asreimbursing the General Fund for earlier transfers to various funds.

Amongthose items were an additional $20,000 to the City Manager’s Office fund forreimbursement of moving expenses incurred by City Manager Doug Adkins. Councilrecently amended Adkins’ contract extending the time for him to move into thecity. Adkins recently purchased a house in the city and expects to be moved insometime before Christmas.

Councilalso approved a transfer of $200,000 from the public safety levy fund to theGeneral Fund. Finance Director Michelle Greis said the transfer was madebecause the city anticipated an extra income tax revenue increase for 2014. Shealso said the transfer was needed to repay the General Fund from an earliertransfer. Greis said the 0.25 percent additional income tax is earmarked forpublic safety expenses and generates about $2.8 million year. The overallpublic safety budget is about $20 million, she said.

Allunspent funds for 2014 will be redeposited into their respective funds for the2015 fiscal year, she said.

Inaddition, $200,000 was transferred to the termination pay fund to coveranticipated retirement costs for the rest of 2014.

Councilalso approved a resolution to advance $922,000 from the General Fund to thecity’s capital improvement fund to cover street improvement projects as thestate and federal grants require the city to spend the money first and thenrequest reimbursement. The resolution allows work to continue on currentprojects including Towne Boulevard, Oxford State and Yankee roads,which are funded partially by grants.

Cityofficials said the only revenue for the capital improvement fund is a 1 millproperty levy that generates about $630,000 a year. The advance will be repaidduring 2015 when reimbursements are made.

Firefighter, inspector recalled

Councilapproved the recall of Firefighter Christopher Klug who was among the 11firefighters laid off in August due to budget constraints. He will fill thevacancy created by the retirement of Scott Bruggeman, effective Nov. 22.

Hejoins fellow firefighter Ryan McClure who was also recalled in late October tofill the vacancy when former chief Steve Botts resigned to take a deputy firechief’s job in Mason.

Inaddition, Tom Huitt was recalled to his position as the city’s electricalinspector. According to city officials, the position was eliminated in January2014 as a budget cut. However, the city was required to do electricalinspections, so Huitt was paid through a temporary service. The savings werevery small, and the building inspection department is generating enough revenueto cover the position and has been accounted in the 2015 city budget. Huittwill be returned to his previous position and pay grade.

Transit grants

Resolutionswere also approved by council for the city to apply for federal and statetransit grants for 2015. Transit services is budgeted at $280,000 from theGeneral Fund as the required city’s portion to buy five new buses.

Thefederal and state grants cover 60 percent of eligible operating expenses, 80percent of eligible capital expenses, and 80 percent of eligible planningexpenses. The grants also cover elderly and disabled assistance projects.Without these grants, the city would have to use more General Fund revenues tocover these expenses.

AGENDA 12-02-2014 : Ok Mr. Bohannon, let's agree...

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 10:41:31 +0000

Author: VietVet
Subject: 5907
Posted: Dec 10 2014 at 10:41am

Ok Mr. Bohannon, let's agree that the below listed comment is correct...

"but my interpretation is that the 200K was moved as an accounting move to right the books before years end since there had been a transfer from the general fund to the public safety fund early, and if the repayment to the general fund had not been made"

Question....why was the money taken from the PUBLIC SAFETY FUND and placed in the GENERAL FUND in the first place, if it was earmarked JUST FOR PUBLIC SAFETY USE? There would have been no need to do all of this transferring if the money would have been kept in it's proper account, right?

And, yes, this city finance department has a history of moving funds from one account to another many times over the course of any given year. A popular practice is to move funds in and out of the General Fund. Some on this site have asked for an explanation as to the movement practices of city finances and have received a convuluted explanation that would confuse a financial wizard. Happened years ago when Councilmembers Tony Marconi and Anita Scott-Jones showed up at a Sunday meeting at the library one time.

Nick Kidd, a forum member could provide some more detail on the city's money movement practices.

AGENDA 12-02-2014 : VietVet wrote:Journal...

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 07:46:33 +0000

Author: Kyle Bohannon
Subject: 5907
Posted: Dec 10 2014 at 7:46am

VietVet wrote:

Journal story....

"Council also approved a transfer of $200,000 from the public safety levy fund to the General Fund. Finance Director Michelle Greis said the transfer was made because the city anticipated an extra income tax revenue increase for 2014. She also said the transfer was needed to repay the General Fund from an earlier transfer. Greis said the 0.25 percent additional income tax is earmarked for public safety expenses and generates about $2.8 million year"

"GREIS SAID THE 0.25 PERCENT ADDITIONAL INCOME TAX IS EARMARKED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENSES"

THEN HOW CAN IT BE USED FOR TRANSFER TO REPAY THE GENERAL FUND AND ANTICIPATED EXTRA INCOME TAX REVENUE INCREASES?

THE VOTERS APPROVED THE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO MAINTAIN THE PUBLIC SAFETY, NOT TO SEE IT GO THE THE BLACK HOLE KNOWN AS THE GENERAL FUND WHERE MONEY IS RE-DISTRIBUTED TO THEIR VARIOUS LITTLE INNER CIRCLE PROJECTS THAT ARE KEPT LOW KEY AND OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW AS TO MONEY TRANSACTIONS.

You see Trotwood, this is the type of crap that infuriates some on this forum. The city leaders are liars, deceitful, manipulative, underhanded and arrogant.

It seems to me that the statement from the journal was not written very clearly.

I could be wrong, but my interpretation is that the 200K was moved as an accounting move to right the books before years end since there had been a transfer from the general fund to the public safety fund early, and if the repayment to the general fund had not been made, the books would not have been balanced, especially when you add in the income tax revenue increase slated to come into the public safety fund.

It has to do with making sure the public safety budget number of 20 million is hit. If it wan't, issues would then occur, I assume.

The .25 income tax revenue of 2.8 million is a separate allotment of money and is not going to the general fund. That money will in fact go to the public safety fund.

I'm still not completely clear on all of the details, and all of the above could be wrong, but that's the way I interpreted it.

It's about balancing the books for the year's end, not about moving money to pay for pet projects.

AGENDA 12-02-2014 : over the hill wrote:What is...

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 07:07:13 +0000

Author: VietVet
Subject: 5907
Posted: Dec 10 2014 at 7:07am

over the hill wrote:

What is it that Dan Picard does on city council? Every council meeting I've observed he sits there with his hands folded in front of him, never lifts a finger, just sits there like a bump on a log. Looks like he's not the least bit interested in the meetin in front of him.JMO

Picard has fallen in line quickly. He is another stooge for the city's inner circle of MMF followers, rubber stamping decisions he is told to do. Same goes for all on council. All are puppets who are required to fall in line or be ousted.....or treated like the black sheep of the family.....like Laubaugh was. Pathetic that one must sell out to be on council. No character in any of them.

AGENDA 12-02-2014 : Journal story...."Council...

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 07:01:36 +0000

Author: VietVet
Subject: 5907
Posted: Dec 10 2014 at 7:01am

Journal story....

"Council also approved a transfer of $200,000 from the public safety levy fund to the General Fund. Finance Director Michelle Greis said the transfer was made because the city anticipated an extra income tax revenue increase for 2014. She also said the transfer was needed to repay the General Fund from an earlier transfer. Greis said the 0.25 percent additional income tax is earmarked for public safety expenses and generates about $2.8 million year"

"GREIS SAID THE 0.25 PERCENT ADDITIONAL INCOME TAX IS EARMARKED FOR PUBLIC SAFETY EXPENSES"

THEN HOW CAN IT BE USED FOR TRANSFER TO REPAY THE GENERAL FUND AND ANTICIPATED EXTRA INCOME TAX REVENUE INCREASES?

THE VOTERS APPROVED THE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO MAINTAIN THE PUBLIC SAFETY, NOT TO SEE IT GO THE THE BLACK HOLE KNOWN AS THE GENERAL FUND WHERE MONEY IS RE-DISTRIBUTED TO THEIR VARIOUS LITTLE INNER CIRCLE PROJECTS THAT ARE KEPT LOW KEY AND OUT OF PUBLIC VIEW AS TO MONEY TRANSACTIONS.

You see Trotwood, this is the type of crap that infuriates some on this forum. The city leaders are liars, deceitful, manipulative, underhanded and arrogant.

AGENDA 12-02-2014 : What is it that Dan Picard does...

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 19:45:47 +0000

Author: over the hill
Subject: 5907
Posted: Dec 02 2014 at 7:45pm

What is it that Dan Picard does on city council? Every council meeting I've observed he sits there with his hands folded in front of him, never lifts a finger, just sits there like a bump on a log. Looks like he's not the least bit interested in the meetin in front of him.JMO

AGENDA 12-02-2014 : LEGISLATION ITEM 9 RESOLUTION...

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 13:13:41 +0000

Author: Vivian Moon
Subject: 5907
Posted: Dec 02 2014 at 1:13pm

LEGISLATION ITEM 9RESOLUTION NO. R2014-45

A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A TRANSFER FROM THE PUBLIC SAFETYLEVYFUND TO THE GENERAL FUND AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.

BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Middletown, Butler/Warren

Counties, Ohiothat:

Section 1

The transfer of funds listed below is hereby authorized byCity Council:

$200,000.00 From the Public Safety Levy Fund (Fund #200)

$200,000.00 to theGeneral Fund (Fund #100)

Section 2

This resolution is declared to be an emergency measurenecessary for the immediate

preservation of the public health, safety and generalwelfare to wit: to assure the proper

allocation of City funds and maintain the properadministration of the finances of the City, and

shall be in full force and effect immediately upon itsadoption.

____________________________

LawrenceP. Mulligan, Jr., Mayor

Adopted: ___________________

Attest: __________________________

Clerk of the City Council

H:\Law\leg\2014 Leg\r Transfer Public Safety Levy Fund.doc
S T A F F R E P O RT

For the Business Meeting of December 2, 2014

DATE: November 13, 2014

TO: Doug Adkins, City Manager

FROM: Michelle Greis, Finance Director

PURPOSE

The purpose of this staff report is to request supplementalappropriations for various

funds for year-end accounting purposes.

BACKGROUND and FINDINGS

City Manager (General Fund #100), Wages (100.111.51110) -$20,000

The current wages and salaries line item has spent 92% ofits allocated budget. An

additional $20,000 is requested to reimburse for movingexpenses for the City Manager

and to accommodate the change in personnel.

Parks Maintenance (General Fund #100), Overtime Wages(100.142.51120) - $4,250

Overtime estimated for special events and snow removal forthe remainder year.

Grounds Maintenance (Auto & Tax Fund #210), OvertimeWages (210.543.51120) -

$1,200. Overtime estimated for the remainder of the year forsnow & ice control and special events.

Public Safety Levy Fund (Fund #200), Transfer to GeneralFund (200.915.58275) -

$200,000

We are anticipating approximately $400,000 in revenue forNovember and December.

We currently have enough budget authority to transfer$200,000.

Taxation (City Income Tax Fund #230),

Transfers Out (230.915.58110) - $186,000 to General Fund;

Transfers Out (230.915.58250) - $200,000 to Termination PayFund;

Transfers Out (230.915.58120) - $180,000 to Auto & GasTax Fund; and

Transfers Out (230.915.58273) - $200,000 to Public SafetyLevy Fund

We estimate that an additional $800,000 is projected inIncome Tax revenue by year

end. This request will allow additional funds to betransferred to the Termination Pay

Fund for retirements anticipated by year end, allow asupplemental for the Taxation

Supplemental Appropriations – Various FundsDivision, givethe Auto and Gas Tax Fund for purchase of salt with the remaining to be transferredto the General Fund.

Taxation (City Income Tax Fund #230), Other ProfessionalServices (230.133.52480) -

$26,000, Outside Printing (230.133.52490) - $8,000

Other Professional Services includes payments to acollection agency for delinquent

taxes and fees for a process server. The majority of theprocess server fee is assessed

back to the taxpayer and paid through their tax account. Atotal of $21,000 is requested

for the collection agency for a period of two years and$15,000 is requested for the

process server. We are also requesting $8,000 for outsideprinting costs enabling us to

order tax forms for the new year.

Termination Pay Fund (Fund #246), Termination Pay(246.990.51140) - $200,000

This request will fund anticipated retirement expenses forthe remainder of the year.

Renaissance South TIF (Fund372), Reimbursements (372.990.52441) $63,100

This tax increment fund received unanticipated property taxrevenue and a percentage

of this revenue includes the school’s portion of taxes. Thisappropriation allows us to

reimburse the school for their portion.

Downtown Improvement Fund (Fund #481), Other ProfessionalServices

(481.604.52480) - $10,000

Funds requested for real estate commission fees on the saleof the Manchester Inn.

Storm Water Fund (Fund #515), Overtime Wages (515.461.51120)- $4,000

A supplemental is needed for overtime associated with stormwater blockages, high

water complaints, and snow & ice control.

Airport Fund (Fund #525), Transfer to Airport Improvements(525.990.58294) - $85,000

To support the city’s match for capital project grants beingreceived from the FAA and

ODOT.

Police Pension Fund (Fund #725), Transfer to General Fund(725.990.58110) -

$183,809

The last quarter 2013 pension costs were paid in 2014. Thissupplemental will allow

these funds to be transferred to the General Fund.

Fire Pension Fund (Fund #726), Transfer to General Fund(725.990.58110) - $201,302

The last quarter 2013 pension costs were paid in 2014. Thissupplemental will allow

these funds to be transferred to the General Fund.

The following are requests to reduce the appropriatedbudgeted amounts as

follows:

Housing Assistance (Fund #232), Housing Assistance Payments(232.990.52960) -

$2,000,000Request to de-appropriate $2 million because thisfunction with the city has ceased and

transferred to Butler and Warren Counties.

Court IDIAM Fund (Fund 252), Other Professional Services(252.990.52480) - $25,000

Request to de-appropriate $25,000 as this project has beenrescheduled for 2015.

HUD Section 108 Fund (Fund #261), HUD 108 Loan Principal(261.980.55802) – $25,000,

HUD 108 Loan Interest (261.980. 55803) - $1,400, and BankFees (261.980.55803) -

$1,000

Request to de-appropriate $27,400. HUD disbursed $1 millionto the City which was

then loaned to Higher Education Partners in 2013. This loanwas paid off by Higher

Education Partners earlier this year and theseappropriations are no longer needed.

Sewer Connection Program (Fund #878), Sewer Connections(878.990.54520) -

$600,000

This project is delayed until next year.

2013 Sidewalk, Curb, and Gutter Program (Fund #879),Concrete Improvements

(879.990.54520) - $15,000

No projects completed in 2014 for this project.

Central Ave. Sidewalk, Curb, and Gutter Program (Fund #880),Sidewalk, Curb & Gutter

(880.990.54520) - $500,000

This project will be moved to 2015.

2014 Sidewalk, Curb, and Gutter Program (Fund #881),Sidewalk, Curb & Gutter

(881.990.54520) - $500,000

There was no sidewalk program implemented in 2014.

ALTERNATIVES

This resolution must be approved to maintain the correctfinancial relationship between City funds.

FINANCIAL IMPACT

These supplemental appropriations will have an effect ontheir perspective fund

balance; however, all unspent funds will be deposited backinto their perspective funds.

EMERGENCY/NON EMERGENCY

Emergency legislation is needed to meet the year-enddeadline for compliance with

accounting and auditing requirements.