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Show kU IfflSlilOl biyfpi n 00080(18 li 0B bliiL B! GARY R. BLODGETT A balanced general fund budget of hich includes employee salary increases Percent was proposed by Bountiful city ' Horning. ;ED salary schedule for fiscal year 1980-81 oncept that would allow higher percentage er-paid employees and less percentage .,; salaried employees. ; 'jiid budget accounts for a $381,000 dc- - Palanced through the revised salary prop- .rcl Proposals in new fees and possible A classifications, according to City Mana-r'i' Mana-r'i' w,1o made the presentation to officials wyees' Association. i'.ry proposal was drastically different .' Proposed to city officials by the Em-.n. Em-.n. The latter included a straight 13.3 . ' umg proposal plus a 5 percent merit in-. in-. employees. ;Mor qualified employees was included in ni delation's proposals. '.Posal seeks a maximum of 13.0 percent -.I -ees earning less than $1 1 .000 per year. ,'n decreases to 1 1.5 percent for $1 1.000 ;irm for$l3,500 to $16,000: 8.5 percent -.r 7.0 percent for $18,500 to $25,000; 'r Ployees earning more than $25,000. several employees he had talked to :?.;liC.nc5pt r salary increases, even those ;;. n'gner end of the pay scale who will be cen'age raise. 5? that about !(W of the total 179 full-Xd full-Xd 3re paid from the general fund, but Jiej greases would effect all employees, 's!ne Police department. :;qUe ,obe discussed at a general meeting of sfternoon and Employee Associa- Bountiful's proposed 1980-81 employees1 sal- $11,000 to $13,500 11.5 percent ary schedule would allow for the following per- $13,500 to $16,000 10.0 'percent cent of raises, not included in-step increases. $lf:000 to $18.500 8.5 percent Merit raises are not considered. $18,500 to $25.000 7.0 percent Salaries less than $1 1,000.. ..13.0 percent. $25,000 or more 5.5 percent tion officials are to meet with city officials again next Tuesday morning. MR. PETERSEN explained that for the city to maintain a balanced budget, as required by law. several proposed increases in revenues and cutbacks in services had to be implemented. Included in revenue-gaining proposals w ere a new storm drain fee proposal, affecting all residents, that was expected ex-pected to net $170,000 a vear: a fee for snow plow service expected to net $32,000; a subdivision inspection fee expected ex-pected to raise $30,000: plus various other fees. THE CITY also proposes to eliminate the long-standing "car-per-man" program of the police department, effec-tiveJan effec-tiveJan 1, 1981. Presently, each police officer has access to a car at all times, but the proposed program would disallow officers the use of cars after duty hours. The police department presently has 27 cars but under the proposed program this figure could be cut drasiically. according to the city manager. HE SAID the program would take several months to implement, thus the "target date" of next January 1 . Also it i proposed that the city's indoor sw imrning pool he dose 5 sLi the city about S40.000. The facility. Mr. Petersen explained, could be revamped to include nine handball courts. HE SAID that this facility (handball courts) is badly needed in the city and could provide a profit, instead of a deficit, as the swimming pool has done for several sears. Mr. Petersen said the city's salary proposal would sae the city about SS7.0O0 compared to the proposal by the Emp!o ees" Association. But the city manager refused to ' comment on savings by eliminating the car-per-man program prog-ram "because of difference of opinions." COUNCILMAN Steve Studdert challenged the city's concept of fees for storm drainage and snow plow service. "The revenue of S202.(KK1 from these two proposals would amount to 2.2 mills, which is simply an indirect taxation." he said. "It., just a different level of taxation that will remain with our citizens for as long as the fee is im posed." THE TOTAL $381,000 difference between anticipated revenue and expenditures is equal to 4.5 mills, it was explained. Mr. Petersen explained that there would probably not be any direct reduction in personnel, but that there would be some cutbacks of salaries due to reclassification of some joS- "WE WILL change some job descriptions and then match the salaries to the jobs," said Mr. Petersen. "As a result, there may be some personnel who will resign rather than accept the salary cutback to meet the job." He noted that the general fund budget will he about $!00.0K) more this year than last year. "THIS INDICATES a very small percentage increase and a very tight budget for next fiscal year," the city manager emphasized. Most of the deficit being made up by new and increased fees is a result of a drastic reduction m sales tax revenue, Mr. Petersen explained. "WE ANTICIPATE only about s'O.OOO in sales tax next fiscal y ear and most of that v. ill he used in the general fund." he said. "Previously, t lit- city could use sales tax for capital improvements but no more. As a result, the city's capita! improvements program has come to a standstill and we can't continue this very long." He noted that only a few months ago the city was said to be in "excellent financial condition." "BUT THIS was because we had S? million surplus in capital improvements." said Mr. Petersen "'I hat entire amount was u-ed to pay for expenses on Mill Creek Crossing Cros-sing and the city no longer has a surplus." David Wilding, president of the Employees' Association, Associa-tion, said he feit there had been a lot of study go into the employees' proposal and he felt the "request was not unusual." HE TOLD city officials that it compares with other businesses in the area. Councilwoman Sou'.hwick asked, however, that the pruposal be given more study with comparisons to other governmental agencies, especially neighboring cities. MAYOR ELMER W. Barlow noted that most Davis County communities had agreed to hold salary increases "under 8.5 percent." "We've got to take a firm stand," he said. |