Pension-fund issue stymies budget approval

Springfield City Council decided May 21 to hold over the proposed $255.1 million budget. The decision followed a budget workshop held the same day, when Councilwoman Cynthia Rushefsky expressed a desire to find extra money to put into the Police Officers’ and Firefighters’ Pension Fund, which faces a contribution shortfall of $6 million.

“(Rushefsky) said she would like to find $500,000 to put into the police and fire pension, and she offered several ideas,” said Louise Whall, the city’s director of public information. “The other council members hadn’t really had time to digest it or come up with their own suggestions, so they decided to hold it over for the next council meeting.”

Rushefsky suggested redirecting funds from three sources: $163,000 proposed for a renovation of the Department of Building Development Services; $35,000 in suggested funding for additional firefighter wellness training; and money that is earmarked for filling the empty deputy city manager position.

If changes to the budget are minor, Whall said council could vote on it during the June 4 meeting. With substantial changes, council would have to hold another public hearing and vote at the June 18 meeting – the last before the new fiscal year begins July 1.

The proposed budget is 8 percent higher than the city’s 2006–07 budget.

Council also considered two city fee increases.

One would increase waste-water rates by 14.75 percent – 3.5 percent annually – over the next four years. The average residential customer, for example, would see an increase of about $2 per month in waste-water fees at the end of the four-year increase.

Marc Thornsberry, city public works director, said the money would be used for programmed plant expansions and the associated operation and maintenance costs.

“We are extremely proud of the progress we’ve made with water quality with the plant expansions, particularly in nutrient removal at both plants,” Thornsberry said. “We had been putting 1,800 pounds a day of phosphorus into Wilson’s Creek, which empties into Table Rock Lake. Today, it’s less than 100 pounds.”

The second fee increase would increase the cost to dump waste at the city sanitary landfills to $28.65 per ton from $27.50 per ton. The proposed fee change – the first in 11 years – would fund landfill development costs, as well as costs of landfill closure.

Thornsberry said the city’s fee would still be the lowest among other landfills in the state, which range from $30 to $55 per ton.

Council is expected to vote on both fee increases June 4.

Also on the agenda:

• Council considered a change to the Police Department merit pay schedule. The bill would allow the department to hire experienced officers at pay higher than the entry level, which is $31,500.

The bill is part of a plan to create a new lateral hiring program. The program, which City Manager Bob Cumley said could be advertised as soon as July 1, would allow officers with at least two years of experience and 600 hours of training to go through abbreviated police academy and field training – a total of 60 days versus the standard nine months. Cumley said, if approved, new officers could be on the street by early 2008.

Council is expected to vote June 4.[[In-content Ad]]