Dec. 2, 2010
Finance Committee Concurs Devil in the Details, Numbers Don’t Tell Full Story; Williams Reverses Stand on Four Day Week
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By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
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Huntington, WV (HNN) – Aside for the real possibility of having less than $600,000 in the budget for paving, Huntington City Council’s Finance Committee, members appeared pleased by the status of revenues and expenditures of the city covering (tentatively) through the next to last day of November.
Finance Director Deron Runyon had previously prepared an unaudited first quarter report for fiscal year 2010-2011. He had mini-previews and highlights detailed for September, October and November 2010, too.
After hearing the nuts and bolts that accompany the figures, Finance Chairman Steve Williams stated, “I’ve never been a fan of the four day week, but I can’t say it has been a failure.” He added that salary-wise “we are on pace” with the exception of four departments, which are “well over the salary line.”
However, numbers do not tell the story without the words of explanation to back up particularly tentative, partial year data.
For instance, the Mayor’s Office showed salary line items at about 30.33% over three months (i.e. 25% of the year), but the financial data does not reflect the payment for that portion of Tom Bell’s salary that comes from his duel capacity as director of the Huntington Municipal Development Authority and Economic Development Director.
Another example related to the police overtime usage. Out of an OT budget of $711,500, about 48.15% has been used, but HPD receives reimbursements. Mayor Kim Wolfe explained that. For instance, the Federal Drug Task Force will provide approximately $92,000, which is not reflected in the budget data.
Police Chief Skip Holbrook indicated that some of the OT is “seasonal,” such as fall operations in conjunction with Marshall University, like home football games. Holding the police and its OT budget in check has come by in Holbrook’s words “capitalizing on every opportunity possible, tweaking and monitoring, We are very pleased” with the result which places HPD “under budget.”
Finance Director Deron Runyon stated that fuel costs are higher than last year which has those line items for highly mobile departments showing a higher amount spent than budgeted for the one quarter of a fiscal year. Another factor, Runyon said, “We have more officers on the street [than last year].”
Revenue collections, when incorporating tentative figures through November 29, indicated in Williams words, “we’re not showing weakness of [this time ] last year and revenue is running a bit ahead of projections.”
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One of the familiar “gorillas” in the room i.e. health insurance claims and expenses are running “below budget” at about 28.56%.
Councilman Jim Ritter added, “I feel very comfortable with the numbers.”
Specifically, the preliminary projected “numbers” show about a $190,000 increase in revenue collections, including B & O collections up nearly 2% from last year. The city service (user) fee at this time demonstrates “people being hired back in the city,” Williams said.
Although this translates to about 60 new hires in the city, it does not contemplate the impact of the announced consolidation of the U.S. Postal Service mail processing center to Charleston.
As for the Street Department and paving, $600,000 had been set aside for paving but this comes through two line items the second of which is labeled “other improvements.” Some money has been spent on bridge repair and road slippage which Brandi Jacobs-Jones, director of finance and administration, stressed does fall within usage requirements for user fee monies.
Mark Bates, vice chairman of council, found that usage “a little disappointing.” As did Jim Ritter who stated that council stipulated $600,000 for paving in the street department.
Runyon reminded council members that they “approve the bottom line” of the budget, not specific line items. Still, he stressed assurances that the city service fee has been utilized (or will be utilized) for police on the street, vehicles, and paving.
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Finance Committee Concurs Devil in the Details, Numbers Don’t Tell Full Story; Williams Reverses Stand on Four Day Week
By Tony Rutherford
Huntingtonnews.net Reporter
Huntington, WV (HNN) – Aside for the real possibility of having less than $600,000 in the budget for paving, Huntington City Council’s Finance Committee, members appeared pleased by the status of revenues and expenditures of the city covering (tentatively) through the next to last day of November.
Finance Director Deron Runyon had previously prepared an unaudited first quarter report for fiscal year 2010-2011. He had mini-previews and highlights detailed for September, October and November 2010, too.
After hearing the nuts and bolts that accompany the figures, Finance Chairman Steve Williams stated, “I’ve never been a fan of the four day week, but I can’t say it has been a failure.” He added that salary-wise “we are on pace” with the exception of four departments, which are “well over the salary line.”
However, numbers do not tell the story without the words of explanation to back up particularly tentative, partial year data.
For instance, the Mayor’s Office showed salary line items at about 30.33% over three months (i.e. 25% of the year), but the financial data does not reflect the payment for that portion of Tom Bell’s salary that comes from his duel capacity as director of the Huntington Municipal Development Authority and Economic Development Director.
Another example related to the police overtime usage. Out of an OT budget of $711,500, about 48.15% has been used, but HPD receives reimbursements. Mayor Kim Wolfe explained that. For instance, the Federal Drug Task Force will provide approximately $92,000, which is not reflected in the budget data.
Police Chief Skip Holbrook indicated that some of the OT is “seasonal,” such as fall operations in conjunction with Marshall University, like home football games. Holding the police and its OT budget in check has come by in Holbrook’s words “capitalizing on every opportunity possible, tweaking and monitoring, We are very pleased” with the result which places HPD “under budget.”
Finance Director Deron Runyon stated that fuel costs are higher than last year which has those line items for highly mobile departments showing a higher amount spent than budgeted for the one quarter of a fiscal year. Another factor, Runyon said, “We have more officers on the street [than last year].”
Revenue collections, when incorporating tentative figures through November 29, indicated in Williams words, “we’re not showing weakness of [this time ] last year and revenue is running a bit ahead of projections.”
One of the familiar “gorillas” in the room i.e. health insurance claims and expenses are running “below budget” at about 28.56%.
Councilman Jim Ritter added, “I feel very comfortable with the numbers.”
Specifically, the preliminary projected “numbers” show about a $190,000 increase in revenue collections, including B & O collections up nearly 2% from last year. The city service (user) fee at this time demonstrates “people being hired back in the city,” Williams said.
Although this translates to about 60 new hires in the city, it does not contemplate the impact of the announced consolidation of the U.S. Postal Service mail processing center to Charleston.
As for the Street Department and paving, $600,000 had been set aside for paving but this comes through two line items the second of which is labeled “other improvements.” Some money has been spent on bridge repair and road slippage which Brandi Jacobs-Jones, director of finance and administration, stressed does fall within usage requirements for user fee monies.
Mark Bates, vice chairman of council, found that usage “a little disappointing.” As did Jim Ritter who stated that council stipulated $600,000 for paving in the street department.
Runyon reminded council members that they “approve the bottom line” of the budget, not specific line items. Still, he stressed assurances that the city service fee has been utilized (or will be utilized) for police on the street, vehicles, and paving.
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