WHAT IS A PROGRAM PLAN……..? The Program Plan’s purpose is to describe where we are at mid year and where we may go in the new year Multiple sources of recommendations 26 Separate Budgets The Executive Director transmittal letter is a summary Each section, has a mission statement, agency goals, work objectives. The Plan is not all about the money A matrix identifying each recommendation has been distributed to municipalities. A table compiling all the responses will be prepared and distributed to everyone.
WHAT IS A PROGRAM PLAN……..? The Program Plan is not a budget it is a tool for presenting information and ideas for comment. The goal is for the municipalities to identify recommendations and priorities they believe should be more fully developed in the Detailed Budget that will be distributed to the Finance Committee in September.
2018 COG BUDGET PROCESS July 30
General Forum sends Program Plan to municipalities for comment
August 16 Municipal comments to Finance Committee August 27 Municipal comments to General Forum August/September September 20 October 12
COG staff prepares the COG Detailed Budget
Detailed Budget to Finance Committee Finance Committee completes Detailed Budget review
Mid October COG staff prepares Summary Budget October 29
Summary Budget presented to the General Forum
November 14?
Municipalities complete review of Summary Budget
November 15?
Finance Committee reviews municipal comments
November 26
General Forum reviews Finance Committee recommendations and endorses 2019 Budget and forwards to municipalities for adoption
WHERE ARE WE NOW WITH 2018 REVENUES? Fees from new construction permits is more than estimated. As of 6/30/2018 over $168 million in new construction has been permitted. This is a record amount for this time of year. A single $250,000 contribution has been received for Phase II construction of the education building at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center $72,000 donated to the Library through Centre Gives $189,766 reimbursement from COG’s medical insurance administrator $65,000 grant for Phase II construction at Active Adult Center
WHERE ARE WE NOW WITH 2018 EXPENSES? Two budget amendments – Fire Intern and CRCA radios No construction funds spent on Whitehall Road Regional Park ($1.2 million was budgeted) Difficult to fill all Parks and Recreation seasonal maintenance worker positions. Funds will carry forward to 2019 budget. $50,000 KINBER fiber optic connection to COG building is not complete.
LONG-TERM TRENDS IMPACTING THE COG BUDGET Continued building and population growth Growing senior population due to in-migration State and federal funding is not changing More usage of COG services from outside the region More COG involvement in environmental issues Higher costs for fire protection Hiring seasonal employees is much more difficult Less favorable bidding environment because companies are busy
UNDERLYING POLICY ISSUES 1.
Should the Code Agency provide Sewage Enforcement Officer services?
2.
Should COG contribute to the Phase II construction of Education Building at Millbrook Marsh Nature Center?
3.
Should COG do more to attract and retain staff?
4.
Should COG do more to plan for future capital improvements and maintenance of its buildings?
5.
Should COG do more to incentivize being a volunteer fire fighter?
6.
Should COG provide an organics collection program?
2019 PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE 1. Centre Region Code Administration - New Construction Budget Three proposed positions in Code Agency; 2 new commercial inspectors/plans examiners and a permit technician. Two positions will work on SEO program 1/3 of their time. The combined budget impact for wages and benefits is $229,700. No municipal contributions requested
2019 PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE 2. Millbrook Marsh Capital Budget – municipal contributions are proposed to be $175,000 for 2019/2020 for the construction of the Phase II construction of the Spring Creek Education Building and a welcome pavilion with restrooms. The project cost estimate is $2.2 million. $605,000 in community donations to date. Applications are submitted for $350,000 DCNR and a $250,000 DCED grant. Phase I was funded directly by the municipalities not by COG.
2019 PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE 3. Centre Region Parks and Recreation Operating Budget – Convert part-time positions into full-time status. The 2019 cost will be paid by the fund balance carry-over from 2018 to 2019 because of unfilled positions. The estimated 2020 additional cost is $135,360 because the fund balance will not be available.
Maintained Acreage and Maintenance Staff 1200
20 18
1000
16 14
800
12
600
10 8
400
6 4
200
2
0
0
Maintained Acreage
Full-Time Maintenance Staff
2019 PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE 4. Regional Fire Protection Operating Budget – Increase the maximum annual stipend for Alpha Fire Company members from $1,069 to $2,125. This concept was discussed with Public Safety Committee and Municipal Managers. The number of fire calls has increased for each of the last 5 years. The budget impact is $70,000.
1600 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2019 PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGES 5. COG Building Capital Budget – Conduct an assessment of the COG Building as recommended by the Ad Hoc COG Facilities Committee. Would be studied. Electrical, mechanical, structural, and plumbing, architectural systems and opportunities for expansion. The budget impact may be $40,000 to $50,000. Approximately one-third would be paid by Code Agency and Refuse/Recycling. This expense is anticipated in the Capital Improvement Plan and will be funded through the existing budget.
2019 PROPOSED CHANGES 6. Schlow Library Operating Budget – Proposed personnel changes are: $48, 502 Part-time to full-time IT Systems Technician 9,577 Upgrade Library Technician to C & D Services Librarian 7,809 Upgrade Patron Service Librarian to Library Technician 12,182 New Philanthropy Assistant $78,070 Increase in compensation costs
2019 PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE 7.Millbrook Marsh Operating Budget - Change part-time position to full-time status due to growth of programming, rentals, and visitors, allows other staff to work on fund raising, and assures two deep leadership. Estimated cost is $40,700 for wages and benefits. Some of the cost will be offset by higher program/rental revenues.
Millbrook Marsh Nature Center
As of As of July 25, 2018 July 25, 2019
Actual 2016
Actual 2017
14,162
15,940
6,677
-
General Third Party Rentals
31
61
33
-
Wedding Rentals
1
3
8
10
Rental Inquires Received
-
-
117
-
12
66
47
-
$ 15,728
$ 10,190
Total Visitors*
Facility Walkthroughs Rental Revenue
$ 7,289 $ 17,337
2019 PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE 8. Regional Refuse and Recycling Budget – change the status of the part time Refuse and Recycling Administrator to full time. The regional composting program is proposed to be implemented in early 2020. The estimated impact is $41,000. No municipal funds requested
Beginning in 2020 the proposed changes in the Refuse & Recycling Program include cart-based refuse collection system. Cost of the service will be dependent on the size and quantity of refuse cart(s) needed.
2019 PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE 9. Parks and Recreation Capital Equipment Budget - $25,000 to purchase a Rec-On-The-Go used box truck with wrapping. Most of the funding is available through the Capital Budget. A $2,500 increase is in municipal shares is anticipated. Increase includes new robotic line painter. The box truck will enable recreation programs to be held at neighborhood parks.
2019 PROPOSED BUDGET CHANGE 10. Administration •
$8,000 to upgrade the COG website to make it easier for the public to locate important information and make it mobilefriendly. Monthly site hits increased by 100% since 2013 to 10,151.
•
$5,000 for activities to celebrate COG’s 50th Anniversary and educating the public. Your ideas are welcome!
Any Questions?