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i32. <br /> <br /> TUiESDAY, MAY 14o 1991 <br /> <br />living adjustment and that this had now been removed, resulting ina decrease <br />in many of the salary line items from the original budget presented to <br />Council. Mr. Brown stated that the 'latest budget figures are based on the <br />Pay Plan as adopted 12/1/90 and the training, merit, and longevity increases <br />which may be granted to employees under the Employee Manual. Mr. Brown said <br />that he saw no basis for Mr. Carter's statements regarding the possibility of <br />eliminating the water and sewer rate increases or in reducing the real estate <br />tax rate. Mr. Brown said that each year the City did not spend all of the <br />appropriated.monies, thereby resulting in a surplus which is used in <br />balancing the next year's budget. Mr. Brown explained that this is due to <br />such things as obtaining lower prices for items proposed to be purchasedin <br />the year than were budgeted, getting better prices for contract work, and <br />personnel turnover which sometimes results in positions being vacant for a <br />period of time during the fiscal year. Mr. Brown said that the early <br />retirement program was proposed by the Governor as a. method for the <br />Commonwealth and localities to save money by hiring individuals at lower <br />salaries to replace those retiring and by not filling some positions of those <br />who are retiring. Mro Brown explained that the City would achieve a <br />reduction of 4 full-time equivalent positions by bringing back some <br />individuals who would retire on a part-time, temporary basis. In response to <br />a question by Councilman Oakes, Mr. Brown stated that officials of the <br />Virginia Retirement System had told him that the cost of the early retirement <br />program would not be listed as a separate cost item, but would be a part of <br />the City's overall retirement contribution amount. Mr. Brown said that he <br />could not include the costs or savings from the early retirement program.in <br />the proposed budget because he did not ~have the necessary information to do <br />so.. Mr. Brown stated that the Administration's approach toward budget <br />preparation was honest, within the confines of what is known at the time in <br />which the budget is prepared and that if a budget were ever prepared or <br /> <br /> <br />