No second for that motion

The first meeting of the Saratoga Town Council since the passing of Councilmember Steve Wilcoxson on May 29 saw the governing body with barely a quorum as Mayor John Zeiger, Councilmember Judy Welton and Councilmember Jon Nelson were in attendance. Councilmember Bob Keel, in writing, cited a conflicting work schedule for being unable to attend.

With the end of the current fiscal year coming to a close in less than a month, the Saratoga Town Council is struggling to get a budget for Fiscal Year 2020/2021 passed before July 1. At the June 2 meeting of the governing body, both a budget amendment for the current fiscal year and the budget for next fiscal year failed to receive a second to go to a vote.

Ordinance 856

The first reading of Ordinance 856, which would amend the 2019/2020 Fiscal Year budget, was held on May 19 and was not without some critique from Nelson. Following a motion made to approve the ordinance on first reading, Nelson asked that several items be added to the ordinance before it went to a vote.

Those items included $30,000 in funds to the Airport Fund from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. They also included several line items for transfer of excess of revenues over expenditures with $13,485 for the Airport Fund, $185,862 for the water fund, $115,286 for the sewer fund and $30,510 for the weed and pest fund. Another addition that Nelson requested be made to the ordinance was in the vehicle replacement fund for the police department to reflect the purchase of the used truck in April.

Following Nelson’s recommended amendments, Zeiger stated that James Childress had recommended that the Town of Saratoga not make any transfers.

While Childress had been in attendance earlier in that meeting, he was not present for the discussion of Ordinance 856. It was requested that Welton contact Childress before the second reading as to a reason why he recommended against making any transfers. The first reading of the budget amendment, without additions, had passed on May 19 with a 4-1 vote with Nelson casting the lone dissenting vote.

As of the second reading, on June 2, the items requested by Nelson had not appeared on Ordinance No. 856. Changes that were made, however, included the addition of the 911 Fund for the police department in the amount of $10,000 and changes to the landfill fund. Under first reading, the ordinance had read that the budget officer “shall adjust the Revenues and Expenditures of the Landfill Fund by approximately $50,000” with the stated purpose to close out all funds due and ending June 30, 2020. On the second reading, the Landfill Fund read that there would be an adjustment of $42,000.

“On the landfill, this has nothing to do with the landfill district as far as our audited financials but if we don’t put extra money in there, we’re not going to be able to write a check in June unless we put it in the budget for July,” said Cox.

“There were also a number of other items that were discussed. I believe I discussed the necessary adjustment we need to make to the police department for the vehicle replacement, the water and sewer and weed and pest enterprise funds for the transfer of the excess of revenue over expenditures to the savings account, and, in addition to that, the airport fund,” said Nelson. “We discussed amending that budget to include the CARES Act grant and the transfer into reserves. None of that is reflected in this second version for second reading. I believe we still have work to do on this.”

Cox replied, stating that Childress had recommended that the Town of Saratoga not make those transfers at this time. Nelson stated that he believed it was unclear if Childress was referring to transfers in the current fiscal year or to transfers in the previous fiscal year, which is still being audited. He added that it was requested at the May 19 meeting that Welton contact Childress and to clarify what transfers could and could not be made.

“I think he asked us not to do any of those until he explained his report and then the council discussed it because I don’t think everyone is in agreement to do that,” said Welton.

Nelson then asked Welton if the excess of revenues over expenditures for the weed and pest fund should not go into the weed and pest savings account. When Welton responded that she believed Childress would advise the council on that issue, Nelson implied that the recommendation would be to claim the excess revenue as either overhead allocations or administrative fees.

The second reading of Ordinance No. 856 died due to lack of a second.

Ordinance No. 857

When the second reading of the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2020/2021 came up for a second reading, Nelson expressed his concerns with it as well. On the first reading of the budget, held on May 19, the total anticipated revenues for the general fund was $2,914,770 while the second reading put that total at $2,971,254. A difference of $56,484.

Between the first and second reading, the following revenue line items were changed:

• Taxes from $2,016,560 on first reading to $2,048,910 on second reading

• Intergovernmental revenue from $245,200 on first reading to $243,535 on second reading

• Miscellaneous Revenues from $221,350 on first reading to $163,350 on second reading

• Contributions and Transfers from $335,210 on first reading to $419,009 on second reading.

In addition to the increase in general fund revenues between first and second reading, it appeared that a number of people in attendance at the town council meeting were concerned about changes to the budget in terms of the recreation department. Specifically in regards to that of payroll for Recreation Director Lisa Burton.

During the May 26 budget workshop, Keel had proposed increasing Burton’s employment status to that of full-time with health insurance and benefits. While Burton was reduced to a part-time basis two years ago, Keel stated that she had been putting in over 30 hours a week in the current fiscal year. Additionally, the budget for Fiscal Year 2020/2021 had Burton’s payroll at $38,000 with $5,500 in payroll benefits, $28,448 in health insurance and $5,000 for pension.

Nelson’s proposed budget accounts for Burton at 25 hours a week with a payroll of $21,450, $3,000 in payroll benefits and no health insurance or pension. Keel proposed $29,172 in payroll, $4,080 in payroll benefits, $31,190 in health insurance and $5,000 for pension. At the workshop, Keel stated that if Burton were reduced to 25 hours a week, then the Town of Saratoga would be forced to drop several programs.

“I believe there’s a number of issues with this ordinance as presented. I believe the revenues are overstated and that our prioritization of expenditures is flawed,” said Nelson. “I know there are a number of people here tonight who wanted to speak about that and express their opinions and concerns to this council. So, seeing as those concerns will not be heard tonight, I will not second the ordinance.”

Due to both Ordinance No. 856 and Ordinance No. 857 failing due to lack of a second and all three readings required to be completed before July, a special meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be held to hold the second reading.

The special meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be at 5 p.m. on June 11 at Saratoga Town Hall.The next regular meeting of the Saratoga Town Council will be at 6 p.m. on June 16 at Saratoga Town Hall.