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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, February 11, 2013 7:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 23 of 24 (11. 2012 GENERAL FUND BUDGET INFORMATION, Continued) The remaining departments were either at or below budgeted amounts. The Police Department represents 40 percent of the General Fund budget and was at 96.33 percent. Savings in the city benefit contribution represents a large percentage of the savings. This is the result of officers that either waive or choose single coverage and overtime being down. The City’s tax levy history demonstrates that as a City we are very dependent on taxes for revenue. Keeping taxes flat the past few years has resulted in expenditures needing to be cut. Olson stated after three or four years of a flat levy, it is getting tougher and tougher to find ways to cut expenditures. Last year the City received $350,000 for building permits. Building permit revenue has been increasing gradually since 2009 but the City is still not at the levels experienced in 2007. The City is, however, starting to move in the right direction. Building and zoning is at 92 percent of budget. Olson indicated Jesse Struve has been very good at reviewing applications, which saves the City money by not having to send the applications out to the consulting engineer. Approximately $17,000 was saved because of the RFP last year. In addition, Consulting Engineer Dave Martini does not charge the City for attending a meeting at the City. The total savings in engineering between those two departments is approximately $45,000. The Public Works Department is at 91 percent of budget. The Public Words Department used less salt and sand and perhaps less patching materials, which helps account for them being under budget. McMillan asked what happens next with the City’s finances for 2012. Olson indicated the auditors have been here and have done their preliminary field work. The auditors were originally scheduled for three days but only came for one day. The auditors will be back out to the City in April to do their final work and then will appear before the City Council with their results at one of the meetings in May. The City Council took no formal action on this item. *12. 2013 PAY EQUITY REPORT Anderson moved, Printup seconded, to approve the City’s 2013 Pay Equity Report. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. CITY ATTORNEY’S REPORT Mattick stated he had nothing to report. Item #02 - CC Agenda - 02/25/2013 Approval of Council Minutes 02/11/2013 [Page 23 of 24]