Jefferson City's annual budget process is officially underway, and the City Council likely will face some discussion on what positions are needed at City Hall.
Last week, Mayor Eric Struemph unveiled his draft budget for the 2015 fiscal year, touting the fact that all positions at City Hall would be fully funded, eliminating the vacancy savings line item.
But several positions at City Hall simply were eliminated from the budget and, according to pink sheets from department directors, those positions are seen as needed by some city staff.
Pink sheets show council members what was requested by each department director, regardless of whether the city administrator or mayor chose to fund it. This year, pink sheets outline more than $4.2 million in unfunded requests from departments.
In unfunded requests from department directors, eight positions were outlined, three of which were part-time or seasonal positions. City Administrator Steve Crowell said these positions were existing city posts that were eliminated in this year's budget because they were unfunded.
"Those used to be in the budget at one time," Crowell said.
Struemph said the budget process moving forward is the time to have conversations about what positions are needed and what aren't, noting that some of the unfunded requests may ultimately be funded before the start of the fiscal year Nov. 1.
"If those positions need to be funded, let's fund and fill them," Struemph said. "I think the budget itself, the budget process, is a great opportunity for staff to come forward and give everyone their position on why they may need another position."
"Ultimately ... the budget is really up to the council."
Unfunded requests
The human resources department requested the restoration of one administrative assistant position (cost of $48,615) and a part-time position, as well as reinstatement of the citywide internship program. In the request for the administrative assistant, it states "this position has been a part of Human Resources for at least 15 years and is critical to the successful operation of the department." It goes on to state that the department was already understaffed when the position was funded, but without it, would be operating with less than three full-time employees, when comparable cities with similar workloads have five full-time employees.
The information technology services department requested one part-time, seasonal GIS (geographic information systems) worker (cost of $10,000). In the request, it states that a good portion of GIS data has not been updated since 2010 and the department has "roughly 3,600 hours of project work that needs to be completed."
The Fire Department requested one part-time support staff member (cost of $16,147), saying in the request that "with the reduction in the Fire Department's administration staff, the need to fill this position is crucial to maintain a level of operation in the administration duties."
The Public Works Department requested two civil engineers (combined cost of $175,830). In the pink sheet request, it stated "over the course of the last 16 months the engineering division has lost 75 percent of its design personnel and currently has only one designer. This has had significant impacts on the ability of the division to design, deliver and manage projects."
Public Works also requested the city fill two vacant street worker positions (combined cost of $85,291), with the request saying the efficiency of the division is restricted by the absence of those positions.
An eliminated position
Another position eliminated from the draft 2015 budget was the communications manager, which has been vacant since the former manager, Michelle Gleba, resigned in March 2013. Struemph said Crowell chose not to fund that position, and he believes the position is no longer necessary as Crowell can take on much of that responsibility.
"I think someone with (Crowell's) experience can probably take care of that for us," Struemph said.
After Gleba resigned, Struemph had said the city did need a communications manager. When asked what's changed since then, Struemph said, "I think we have an experienced administrator."
Crowell said he didn't put the position in the budget because, for one, no one requested it be included. The other reason, he said, is because the city needed to prioritize positions at City Hall.
When Gleba resigned, she was earning a salary of $57,000 as communications manager.
Funding a finance director
One position that is fully funded in the 2015 draft budget is finance director. Bill Betts, information technology services director, has served as interim finance director since January 2013.
The city's former finance director, Steve Schlueter, retired at the end of September 2012. The city did two national searches that year to fill the position, both of which failed to produce a suitable candidate.
Struemph said he hopes to get the process started on hiring a new finance director quickly, but when asked if the city would look internally or externally for a candidate, he said it's too early to tell what the search process would entail.
"I look for (Crowell's) guidance on that, but I hope to get started pretty soon," Struemph said.
Crowell said the council would decide the best way to move forward on hiring a finance director and a plan would be discussed with the council soon.
The next budget committee meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Wednesday where they will begin discussing the Police Department and Fire Department budgets. All budget meetings are open to the public and broadcast on JCTV, as well as streamed on the city's website.
The full draft budget is available at www.jeffcitymo.org/council/budgetmeetings.html.