FY2013 Budget Ordinance

The Mayor and Commissioners approved an ordinance for the Fiscal Year 2013 City Budget.  The City’s fiscal year begins July 1.  A budget workshop was held June 5.  To prepare the budget, each department head evaluated programs and individual budgetary line items to make the budget as efficient and tight as possible.  City Manager Jeff Pederson says next year’s budget will be challenging since the growth of expenses is outpacing the growth of revenue.  Plus, one source of revenue, the insurance premium tax, has been on a steady decline. 

To become more efficient, the City also has reduced its workforce by 10%, 33 full-time employees, over the past five years through retirements, attrition, and the layoffs in 2009.  For fiscal year 2013, the City has budgeted 309 full-time employees as compared to the 342 employees in fiscal year 2007.

The majority of the City’s budget, $30.89 million, is in the general fund, the City’s main operating fund.  The City operates its finances through more than 20 different funds including the general fund, investment fund, police and fire pension fund, solid waste fund, fleet lease trust fund, and health insurance trust fund.   The general fund is projected to have a slight increase in revenue for the upcoming fiscal year.  But that revenue increase is only one percent, basically flat.  The four main sources of revenue for the General Fund are payroll tax, insurance premium tax, business license tax, and property tax.  Pederson also summarized some of the items contained in the investment fund, which is funded by the ½ cent payroll tax and dedicated to economic development, community redevelopment, capital/infrastructure improvements, and property tax relief.  The projected available fund balance for the Investment Fund for the upcoming fiscal year is $4.98 million. 

Creation of Fire Prevention Division

The Mayor and Commissioners approved an ordinance creating the Fire Prevention Division of the Paducah Fire Department.  This ordinance affects five chapters of the Paducah Code of Ordinances and abolishes the Inspection Department with the employees and duties, functions, and responsibilities of that department moved to the Fire Prevention Division.  Mayor Bill Paxton says, “It’s an innovative idea.  It is being done in other cities.  I want to commend anyone who had a part to play in it.”  Over the past few months after the death of Inspection Director Joel Scarbrough, the City Manager has looked at reorganizing the Inspection Department.  In February, the Fire Department began overseeing the department through a pilot program.  Two meetings have been held with contractors to gain their feedback.  Fire Chief Steve Kyle is focusing on enhancing customer service and improving service delivery.  In the past few months, several changes already have been initiated including the purchase of basic supplies for the code enforcement officers, development of criteria for foreclosures, office renovation, movement toward a paperless office, integration of a document management service, and the scheduling of training. 

Amend Zoning Ordinance to Change Height of Signs in POP Zone

The Mayor and Commissioners approved an ordinance amending section 126-76 (1) of the Paducah Code of Ordinances regarding signs in the Planned Office Park (POP) zone.  The POP zone includes Information Age Park off U.S. 62.  Prior to this ordinance, business signs in the POP zone were not to exceed four feet in height above grade.  This ordinance allows signs up to 12 feet in height.  The Paducah Planning Commission held a public hearing on May 21, 2012 regarding the change and with a vote of 4-3 made a negative recommendation to the City Commission. 

Stuart Nelson Dog Park Fencing

The Mayor and Commissioners approved an ordinance accepting the bid from Flener Brothers Fence Company of Litchfield, Kentucky for fencing for the dog park that will be constructed at Stuart Nelson Park.  The City requested bids and had a bid opening on June 18 with four qualified bids submitted.  The Flener Brothers Fence Company bid was the lowest, evaluated bid.  The black vinyl fencing and gates are not to exceed $38,000.  Public fundraising for a dog park has been ongoing for more than two years.  The City challenged the public to raise $20,000 toward the park and then the City would match that amount.  Parks Services Director Mark Thompson says 85 different donors contributed to the park.  The dog park will be on an approximately 7-acre tract of Stuart Nelson Park.  The park will have two large fenced areas for large dogs and small dogs in addition to parking, water, and shelters.  Drainage improvements and the fencing are expected to be completed within the next few weeks.  The City plans to open the dog park in August. 

Quick Highlights: 

• Mayor Bill Paxton proclaimed Paducah as a Purple Heart City to honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s men and women in uniform wounded or killed while serving to protect the freedoms enjoyed by all Americans.
• Mayor Paxton presented a Duke of Paducah award to Andrew Coiner for his years of service as chairman of the Paducah Human Rights Commission.
• Police Chief James Berry recognized Captain Mark Roberts for his recent graduation from the FBI National Academy, a highly competitive and rigorous program.
• Leon Dodge and Hardy Gentry presented a plaque to the Board of Commissioners for their support of the Korean War Memorial located at Dolly McNutt Plaza.  The City contributed $15,000 toward the construction of the memorial.
• Boards and Commissions:  Bill O’Brien reappointed to the Paducah-McCracken County Joint Sewer Agency; and Zachary Hosman appointed to the Paducah Area Transit System Board
• Municipal order approved implementing many of the recommendations outlined in the pay and classification study conducted by McGrath Consulting.
• Municipal order approved to apply for the 2012 Homeland Security Grant in the amount of up to $80,000.  If awarded, the funds would be used to purchase 27 hand-held radios.   This grant does not require a match.
• Ordinance approved for the annual service agreement between the City of Paducah and Motorola for the 800 MHz radio controllers, individual department radios, 911 dispatch consoles, telephones, and other related radio equipment.  The contract is in the amount of $57,894.36.
• Ordinance approved for the 5th amendment to the Frequency Reconfiguration Agreement with Sprint/Nextel and Motorola for the 800 MHz rebanding.
• Ordinance approved for the wall-to-wall maintenance agreement with Herb Roe of the murals located on the City’s floodwall along Water Street.  The amount budgeted for the upcoming fiscal year is $24,900 which includes travel and lodging expenses and the maintenance on four murals.   The murals that will receive attention include the Red Coat Ambassadors Mural, the Labor Union Mural, the 1910 Riverfront (panels 2 and 3), and the three panels of the Atomic Murals.  Work currently is underway on the murals.
• Ordinance approved authorizing the payment of $30,101.50 to AES Environmental LLC for the collection and disposal of household hazardous waste from the annual City/County Spring Clean Up Day event held April 14, 2012.  A $27,000 grant from the Kentucky Division of Waste Management helps with the event expenses.
• Ordinance approved for the contract between the City of Paducah, WKCTC, and Paducah Junior College for the operation of the public and government access channels.  The City provides $60,000 annually for the television production services in addition to providing $0.25 per Comcast subscriber per month for the services.
• Ordinance introduced (vote July 10) authorizing Paducah Water to sell a parcel of surplus property located near the intersection of Old Calvert Road and Kentucky Dam Road.
• Ordinance introduced (vote July 10) for change order #1 for the uniform services contract for the fire department.
• Ordinance introduced (vote July 10) to close a portion of Garfield Street between Chester Hack Drive and Coxey Street.
• Ordinances introduced (vote July 10) to accept the following grant awards:
  • 2012-2013 Law Enforcement Service Fee Award—grant award in the amount of $12,634 to be used for overtime costs and the purchase of in-car digital cameras in order to operate a DUI enforcement program.  Grant requires a cash match of $1199.
  • 2012-2013 Kentucky Recycling Grant Award—grant award in the amount of $40,418.70 to be used to purchase equipment for the Recycle Now recycling center located at 1851 North 8^th Street.  Grant requires a match of $7725 each from the City and County in addition to an in-kind donation of $7790 from Paducah Water.
  • 2012-2013 Kentucky Household Hazardous Waste Grant Award—grant award in the amount of $33,700 to be used for the 2013 Spring Clean Up Day.  Grant required a match of $9000 to be divided between the City and County.  During April 2012, 709 residents brought items to the Spring Clean Up Day.
  • 2012 Area Development Fund Award—Grant award in the amount of $5237 to be used toward the construction of the dog park at Stuart Nelson Park.  No local cash match is required.
• The City Manager and Mayor recognized Jim Sigler and Hal Sullivan for their years of service on the Convention Center Corporation board.  Sigler and Sullivan began serving in 1997 and 1995, respectively. 

###