Label
Committee of the Whole- Budget
2/1/2024
Title
Councilmember Theresa Gadus asks:
Please list all of the increases and decreases in the budget and the reason for those changes for the Department of Transportation and all its divisions.
Body
Referral Response:
Referral Response:
DATE: February 13, 2024
TO: Councilmember Theresa Gadus and Members of the Committee of the Whole - Budget
THROUGH: Douglas Stephens, Director Transportation
Melanie Campbell, Interim Director of Finance
FROM: Carol Wagner, Manager, Department of Transportation
Referral Response:
Please see below for explanations as to the increases and decreases in the Department of Transportation’s operating budget.
• Road and Bridge Maintenance
o Street Construction Maintenance and Repair Fund
§ Labor and Personnel
• Decreased by $649,540 from 2023
• Vacancies were frozen to align expenditures with estimated fund revenue and available fund balance.
§ Supplies
• Decreased by $1,710,391 from 2023
• Materials for infrastructure repair was reduced due to the elimination of the overlay program and an increase in the utility cut restoration program which charges the expenses back to the Department of Public Utilities.
§ Services
• Decreased by $334,037 from 2023
• Elimination of the rental of equipment for the overlay program,
§ Capital
• Decreased by $577,084 from 2023
• The budget in 2023 was for equipment purchases. No equipment purchases are budgeted in this fund for 2024.
o Special Assessment Services Fund
§ Labor and Personnel
• Decreased by $211,941from 2023
• Vacancies were frozen to reduce the expenditures in the SCM&R fund. Many of these positions are partially funded with the Special Assessment Services Fund which in turn reduced the labor budget in this fund.
§ Supplies
• Decreased by $13,000 from 2023
• Office and computer supplies were reduced to align with prior spending.
§ Services
• Decreased by $1,153,555 from 2023
• The contractual services account was reduced. This account is used for private snow plow operators. The division has had increasing difficulty in hiring private snow plow operators due to insurance requirements. This operation will be covered by Road and Bridge Maintenance personnel.
o Capital Improvement Fund
§ Labor and Personnel
• Decreased by $58,016 from 2023
• Vacancies were frozen to reduce the expenditures in the SCM&R fund. Many of these positions are partially funded with the Capital Improvement Fund which in turn reduced the labor budget in this fund.
§ Services
• Decreased by $3,396,172 from 2023
• This budget includes CIP project and grant budget. There is no operating budget for services in either 2023 or 2024.
§ Capital
• Decreased by $254,706 from 2023
• The 2023 budget is CIP carryover from 2021 for purchases of vehicles and machinery. This is included in the 2024 CIP closeout.
• Traffic Management
o General Fund
§ Labor and Personnel
• Increased by $92,494 over 2023
• Addition of Manager position for the Vision Zero project.
o Street Construction, Maintenance and Repair Fund
§ Labor and Personnel
• $91,3889 decrease from 2023
• Vacancies were frozen to align expenditures with estimated fund revenue and available fund balance.
§ Supplies
• $7,970 decrease from 2023
• The Clothing and Linen account was reduced to align with prior spending.
§ Services
• $126,433 decrease from 2023
• The Professional Services account was reduced for traffic studies. It was determined that this service could be covered under Engineering’s project budget.
§ Capital
• $384,428 decrease from 2023
• The budget in 2023 was carried forward from prior years for the purchase of traffic signals and vehicles in 2023.
o Capital Improvement Fund
§ Labor and Personnel
• $125,061 decrease from 2023
• Vacancies were frozen to reduce the expenditures in the SCM&R fund. Many of these positions are partially funded with the Capital Improvement Fund which in turn reduced the labor budget in this fund.
§ Supplies
• $208,504 decrease from 2023
• The 2023 budget amount includes traffic signal equipment approved through the CIP plan.
• The operating portion of the supplies budget remains flat from 2023.
§ Services
• $226,350 increase over 2023
• The 2023 budget amount of $79,600 includes CIP project budget for street signs
• The 2024 budget amount includes $300,000 for Signs and Signals from the 2024 CIP plan.
• The operating portion of the services budget was reduced by $250 over 2023 for a total of $5,950 in 2024.
• Engineering and Construction Management
o General Fund
§ Labor and Personnel
• $4,071 decrease from 2023
• Vacancy for Administrator is frozen in 2024. This position is partially funded in the General Fund.
§ Supplies
• $550 decrease from 2023
• The postage account was reduced to reflect prior usage.
§ Services
• $88 decrease from 2023
• Interdepartmental chargebacks were reduced slightly.
o Special Assessment Services Fund
§ Labor and Personnel
• $9,372 increase over 2023
• 1.9 FTEs budgeted in this fund that are receiving contractual raises for Local 7 and Local 2058.
§ Services
• $12,200 decrease from 2023
• Budget for facility operation charges was moved to fund 6070 (Sewer Operating Fund).
o Capital Improvement Fund
§ Labor and Personnel
• $162,182 decrease from 2023
• Overtime was reduced due to the salary increases for engineering staff.
§ Supplies
• $51,200 increase over 2023
• Increased postage costs for sidewalk assessment program in 2024.
§ Services
• $15,517,793 decrease from 2023
• The 2023 budget amount includes CIP project funds and grant funds that are not reflected in the 2024 proposed budget.
§ Capital
• $75,000 increase over 2023
• Request to replace survey equipment was included in the 2024 proposed budget.
o Road Improvement Fund
§ Labor and Personnel
• $145,114 decrease from 2023
• Overtime was reduced due to the salary increases for engineering staff.
§ Services
• $3,942,777 decrease from 2023
• The 2023 budget amount includes carry over budget from 2022.
o Special Assessment Improvement Fund
§ Services
• $1,000,000 increase over 2023
• Sidewalk assessment program was increased for 2024.
o Water Operating Fund
§ Labor and Personnel
• $95,584 decrease from 2023
• FTEs were moved from this fund into CIP project support to better reflect the funding of roadway and utility projects.
§ Supplies
• Remained flat
§ Services
• $42,357 decrease from 2023
• Computer software lease budget was reduced by DPU.
o Sewer Operating Fund
§ Labor and Personnel
• $91,531 decrease from 2023
• FTEs were moved from this fund into CIP project support to better reflect the funding of roadway and utility projects.
• Overtime was reduced due to the salary increases of the engineering staff.
§ Supplies
• $4,000 decrease from 2023
• Postage budget was moved to CIP project support
§ Services
• $90,910 decrease from 2023
• Decrease in interdepartmental chargebacks
• Contractual services reduced by DPU
§ Capital
• $40,000 increase over 2023
• Purchase of SUV for construction monitors to inspect contracted work.
§ Other
• $50,000 decrease from 2023
• Decreased Basement Flood Grant Program to reflect actual usage.
o Storm Water Operating
§ Labor and Personnel
• $132,226 decrease from 2023
§ Supplies
• No change from 2023
§ Services
• $14,499 decrease from 2023
• 2023 budget included appropriated funds for the Impervious Surface Mapping project.
§ Other
• $50,000 decrease from 2023
• Decreased Basement Flood Grant Program to reflect actual usage.