Personnel costs for the City of San Marino are budgeted to increase by $75,226 for the 2016-17 fiscal year. With three union agreements pending, the city’s latest numbers don’t fully reflect the personnel costs for the coming year.
City Manager John Schaefer proposed to increase the full-time personnel equivalents from 131.65 to 133.46 across all the departments.
New full-time additions include an administrative analyst in the Recreation Department, an upgrade from a part-time police records clerk to full time, an upgrade from a part-time administration intern to a full-time assistant to the city manager, and an upgrade of two part-time librarians from a Librarian I to a Librarian II position, which will cost an additional $2,051 next year. Schaefer did not recommend the upgrade of the library Administrative Analyst I to an Administrative Analyst II, which would have cost an additional $3,131 next year.
Schaefer’s budget presentation at the May 11 San Marino City Council meeting was one of many presentations that have taken place over the past six months. The council heard another update on May 27. The council will approve the final budget for the next fiscal year, anticipated to be close to $27 million, at either its June 8 or June 24 meeting.
In additional to personnel, capital expenditure and services and supplies costs for each department were discussed at the meeting. Schaefer suggested fully funding some departmental requests, while trimming others.
Schaefer’s recommendation, the city’s administration department will not spend almost $20,000 to video stream city council meetings online or $84,698 to replace its telephone system. $5,000 will be allocated for disability upgrades in the council chambers.
The Planning & Building Department requests to upgrade it Geographic Information System, or GIS, and replace a computer – for a combined cost of $14,500 – made the city manager’s list of recommendations.
The department will also revise its circulation element as part of an update to the city’s General Plan. The $30,000 cost associated with this item will be paid for by the department. The Planning & Building Department is one of the few departments that is financially self-sustaining.
As a public service to the community, the Crowell Public Library has one of the lowest cost recovery rates. Nevertheless, approximately 70 percent of its budget requests for the 2016-17 fiscal year will be paid for by donations from the library’s local support groups and residents. Of the $74,251 requested in library services, supplies and capital equipment, around 30 percent will come out of the city’s general fund.
The Recreation Department’s requests for a $1,500 computer replacement and $29,235 upgrade to the department’s computer server have also made the city manager’s cut.
As did the Emergency Services Department’s request for $10,000 for a contract with an Emergency Services Analyst and $9,000 for radios.
The Public Works Department’s requested budget of $4,397,349 for capital expenditure projects, which include street work, light conversions, sidewalk repairs and other infrastructure projects.
The Old Mill requested $57,000 for various improvements, though Schaefer recommended that the council approve only $32,000.
San Marino Cable Channel 19, which has gone dark for the last four years, continues to be part of the budget. The city manager does not expect to spend any of the $30,000 allocated for the station.
For an update on the San Marino Fire and Police Departments, which were also discussed as a part of the budget presentation, visit www.sanmarinotribune.com for “City Council Scrutinizes Fire and Police Budgets.”
