Council approves 5 percent raises
Amid concerns about a diminishing safety net and a growing government, the Columbia City Council approved the 2010-11 budget by a four to two vote Monday.
Council members hashed out several issues before approving the budget, spending close to an hour discussing items such as employee salaries, a reduction in general funds, and earmarked funds for the chamber of commerce and economic development.
Tensions grew at times as council members asked about specific funding and at least one council member suggested they were not provided proper information to make informed decisions.
Council member Edwin Taylor voted against the budget after learning that the city would keep two office personnel, two technicians and a supervisor for the gas department. The city handed over water and sewer operations to the county water district but kept gas operations.
City Clerk Carolyn Edwards said one of the office positions would come out of the general fund and one out of the gas department. The other positions are part of the gas department budget.
Mayor Pat Bell reminded council members that the gas budget shows more revenue than expense and said the gas department will be profitable. The budget shows an expected $70,380 more in revenue than expenses.
Taylor said it was his understanding “through the grapevine” that the city planned to only keep one office employee when the council agreed to merge utilities with the county.
“At what time did that change?” Taylor said.
Edwards asked Taylor if he heard that from her or someone on the street.
“It did not come from my office,” she said.
Taylor questioned why so much administrative staff is needed.
“We keep making city government bigger,” he said.
Taylor was also surprised to learn that the city had changed one part-time office position to full-time last January.
“The council needs to be kept informed,” he said. “I don’t know where this money is coming from.”
Taylor also said he was concerned with the employees receiving a 5 percent pay increase.
Council member June Parson said the budget was dipping into the city’s reserve by $112,847 going into the fiscal year. That would reduce the reserve fund by $690,000 in two years, she added.
“Our expenses are exceeding the yearly revenue and these are recurring expenses, so they are going to continue every year,” she said.
Mayor Bell said the city is in a growing mode and suggested new revenue from growth will ease the situation in future years.
Councilwoman Linda Waggener asked if the city is in trouble cash-wise because of the reduction in carryover funds.
Mayor Bell said the city still has a reserve of $1.5 million. Edwards, the city clerk, said the drop in reserve funds this past year was mostly due to the construction of the city hall expansion.
Parson and council member Charles Grimsley pointed to revenue in the budget committing $5,000 each to the chamber of commerce and the economic development authority.
Grimsley said last year the funds for economic development were provided with a condition that the city meet with the authority to talk about ways for them to become self-sufficient. He also said he wants to make sure the chamber uses their funding for projects that benefit everyone and are not used exclusively for chamber members.
Parson brought back up the 5 percent pay increase, saying she was not trying to take away from the work of employees but they should consider the economic situation across the nation. State employees did not receive a pay increase this year and federal employees received a 2 percent increase.
Mayor Bell said city employees only received a 2 percent increase last year and he said he would like to do the 5 percent to make up for last year.
Council member Craig Dean asked if others would consider a 4 percent increase but got little response.
Waggener asked if the budget included funds to help with the courthouse restoration and was told that it did not. Taylor said he did not want to see any city funds go toward the project.
“That’s a county project,” he said.
Waggener replied that the city’s Renaissance program is about downtown revitalization and said the courthouse is “our brass rail. That’s the center of our town.”
Ultimately, the council voted to approve the budget, including the 5 percent salary increases, additional employees and the funding for the chamber and economic development authority, with one stipulation. Grimsley asked for and got an amendment that the city meet with the economic development authority and discuss how they can become self-sufficient.
Council member Craig Dean made the motion to approve the budget with Linda Waggener giving the needed second. Grimsley and Moore voted in favor of the motion. Parson and Taylor voted no. Parson said she voted against the budget because of her concern about the $112,000 shortfall. The budget passed four to two.
By Sharon Burton
snburton@windstream.net
