9.5% tax increase proposal for #TroyCrazy

From: Carmella Mantello <cmantell@nycap.rr.com>
Date: November 15, 2016 at 10:48:49 AM EST
To: Carmella Mantello <cmantell@nycap.rr.com>

Council President Mantello, Councilman McGrath, Councilwoman Ashe-McPherson & Councilman Gulli's Release Plan to reduce the Mayor’s proposed tax hike for 2017. The Plan will reduce the tax increase from 28.2% to 9.5% through the following:



EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS (All positions include estimated fringe benefits) – $2,646,093
REVENUE INCREASES - $200,000
MAYOR’S BUDGET AMENDMENTS (11/11/16) - $401,465
MAYOR TO REDUCE BUDGET BY 1% - Approx. $730,000

Not Filling Vacant Positions (the following):

Comptroller Admin - Head Account Clerk $74,162.40
City Engineer - $110,262

Police A3120
4 vacant police officers $250,266
Eliminate 2 Community Service Officers $108,589
Eliminate Community Service Liaison $50,971
Eliminate Vacant DEMO $47,715

Fire A3410
Eliminate 2 vacant firefighters $99,507

Code Enforcement A3620
Eliminate Housing Code Technician $48,148

Eliminate proposed new positions (the following):

A1490 Community Outreach Event Specialist $64,936
A1490 Commissioner of General Services $110,500
A7150 Parks & Rec Laborer $34,145
A7150 No title or salary upgrade for Recreation Specialist (Rec Maint Worker II) $13,571
A8160 Asst Solid Waste Enforcement Officer $36,887
A8160 Solid Waste Management Specialist $72,944
A1420 FT Deputy Corporation Counsel $60,000 reduced to PT $24,840 Savings $35,160

Reduce the following:

Bureau of Assessments
A1355 Temporary (Data Collector) $5,000

Mayor’s Administration
A1210 Grant Writing Specialist reduced from Full Time to Part Time - $91,000 (w/ fringe) to 17.5 hours per week $20,000 w/o fringe Savings = $71,000

Code 4 Contractual services
Repairs and Rentals $91,037
Insurance reduce $50,000
Consultant Services- Additional reduction consultant fees $84,800
Judgments & Claims - Reduce $50,000 increase
Contingencies - Reduce $100,000 increase
Code 9 Interfund Transfers Reduce $100,000

City Council
A1010 404 0094 Neighborhood Improvement Grant reduce $1,000
A1010 404 0091 Reduce Consultant Services $4,700
City Auditor
A1320 804 Eliminate Pension & Retirement $9,409
A101 Reduce Auditor $10,000

Corporation Counsel
A1420 Consultant Fees deduct $50,000
Corporation Counsel
A1420 Eliminate salary bumps $3,000
A1420 409 Litigation Expenses $20,000

A3120 Police OT reduce $158,387
A3120 Police Travel reduce $13,500

Records Management & Vital Statistics
A4020 Eliminate Temporary Salaries $10,000

Personnel & Civil Service
A1430 Eliminate Temporary $10,000 (Part Time Clerk)

Information Systems (IT)
A1680 Eliminate Computer Support Technician$71,235

Engineering
A1440 Eliminate Engineer $110,262

Events
A7150 432 Civic Services Reduce $15,000

Fire Department
A3410 Discretionary OT reduce $300,000 - Additionally, the 4 Council Members directs the Mayor to sign off the Chief’s overtime and preapprove any overtime except major emergencies.

Redirect the remaining $80,000 from the CRC through a budget transfer in 2017 for the Financial Consultant to fund the $75,000 Deputy Comptroller position

Public Works
A5110 409 Reduce Consultant Services $15,000

Planning & Community Development
A409 0091 Consultant Services Eliminate $15,000 Marketing Study (This money is to match a National Grid grant to market economic development in the City. The 4 members propose to seek another partner and source LDC, Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce, County Tourism Department, County IDA)

Contract Services-Youth Agencies
A7310 409 Reduce the proposed $40,000 additional

Revenue
Fee increases passed by Council (barricade permits, building permits, etc) +$200,000

Miscellaneous Recommendations

Hiring freeze beginning January 1, 2017

A1000-27050000 Gifts and Donations Troy Redevelopment Foundation (Major non-profits RPI, Sage, etc) is a Gift/Donation to the City. The City is informed by the TRF where to spend the money.
We are directing the Mayor to immediately meet with the TRF and implement a policy change to direct these funds for the public safety departments since this is a donation to the City. $425,000 ($212,050 & $212,050 Police & Fire). (Therefore, a savings of $425,000 in Police and Fire can be achieved.)
The 4 Council Members additionally directs the Mayor to aggressively seek additional money from the TRF, which has not been increased since the mid-1990’s, for public safety expenses. The appropriation is to be used for public safety expenses and not at the direction of the Troy Redevelopment Foundation. Additionally, the Mayor is to meet with St. Peter’s Health Partners to invite them to become a stronger partner with the Troy Redevelopment Foundation.

Apply through Governor Cuomo’s newly announced grant program to merge Information Systems with the County

Apply through Governor Cuomo’s newly announced grant program to consolidate the Purchasing and Personnel Offices with the County