CITY OF GOOSE CREEK

PROPOSED FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

• Provides for and continues the provision of excellent municipal services in all City departments
• No property tax increase (29th year without an ad valorem property tax increase)
• No business license rate increase
• No water rate increase (14th year without a water rate increase)
• Proposed two and a half percent (2.5%) cost of living adjustment for city employees
• Adequate reserves in all City funds

 

 

Administration Department

• Addition of one Part-Time Administrative Assistant for Mayor

 

Planning Department

• Comprehensive Plan Update

 

Police Department

• Addition of one Crime Prevention Officer
• Addition of one Narcotics Investigator
• Addition of one Lead Communications Specialist
• Addition of one Communications Specialist
• Nine Police Vehicles

 

Fire Department

• Addition of three Firefighter/EMT’s
• Addition of three Firefighter/Paramedics

 

Department of Public Works

 

DPW – Sanitation Division

• Addition of one Equipment Operator I
• Addition of one Equipment Operator II
• Upgrade two Equipment Operator I Positions to two EquipmentOperator II Positions

 

DPW – Maintenance Division

• Upgrade one Groundskeeper I Position to Groundskeeper II

 

DPW – City Garage

• Status Quo

 

DPW – Water Division

• Reclassify Water Distribution System Operator I to Engineering Technician
• Upgrade Assistant Director/City Engineer’s grade to 24
• Upgrade Water Supervisor’s grade to 21
• System Upgrades

 

Information Technology Department

• Addition of one System Analyst

 

Golf Department

• Addition one Maintenance Worker

 

Recreation Department

• Status Quo
• Transition Planning in Progress (Effective Date = January 1, 2009)

 

 

Notes

City staff has done an excellent job of preparing the proposed FY 2009 City budget despite the demands and challenges presented in a weak economic environment.  While there are regions and areas of South Carolina and the nation that are struggling with weak markets, the Goose Creek experience remains constant and strong; new housing starts are maintaining a constant pace and commercial investment is increasing.  City revenues are healthy and increasing while expenditures are fairly constant except in the areas of insurance and vehicle fuel(s).  Health insurance for City employees is a continuing concern; the cost of dependent health care coverage is of particular concern.  City staff is investigating several options to control costs while maintaining benefits – the objective is to make dependent health care coverage affordable to City employees resulting in better recruitment tools and enhancing the retention of valuable employees.  Options being investigated are an evaluation of the City’s current health insurance provider, Blue Choice, the State Health Insurance Plan and the potential of creating a self-insured plan with a third-party administrator.  Fuel considerations are a completely different problem as the City is subject to the whims of the market which is very volatile – as you will notice, vehicle fuel(s) are budgeted in the four dollar ($4.00) per gallon range even though a check of the wholesale fuel spot market as of 8/7/2008 revealed prices of $3.55 per gallon (unleaded gasoline).  Staff simply does not know how and when prices will vacillate – conservation methods will be examined and implemented wherever practical and feasible. 

 

In summary, the proposed FY 2009 City budget has been challenging, however, City staff has been up to the task – the proposed FY 2009 City budget is a solid document that provides a detailed road map to the financial and service delivery success of the City of Goose Creek.