Iola officials pursue ways to cut budget

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July 29, 2014 - 12:00 AM

Iola City Council members will continue to look at ways to pare the city’s 2015 budget before next year’s spending plan is approved.
The Council has until its Aug. 11 budget hearing to decide whether to approve a 6-mill increase, as proposed by City Administrator Carl Slaugh to cover projected shortfalls in operating a countywide ambulance service.
If approved, the city’s levy would go from 38 mills to about 44, bringing in an additional $178,000.
Also on the table is a proposal to nearly double transfers from the city’s electric reserves — from $1.3 million this year to $2.7 million in 2015 — while the council will look closer at water, sewer and wastewater rates to ensure those funds remain solvent enough to pay for ongoing maintenance and improvement projects.
The mill levy hike could be removed, Slaugh noted Monday, if the county agrees before the budget deadline to provide additional funding for EMS operations.
 In related matters, the council once again tabled any decision on how to cover a projected $377,000 shortfall in EMS operations this year. Slaugh noted that property or sales tax increases could not be used to subsidize the ambulance budget until 2015 at the earliest.
By law, the EMS fund must be in balance by Dec. 31.
The county has indicated it would provide an additional $189,000 this year, with the stipulation the city return the money if Iola later drops the EMS service.
“I don’t think that statement is a good option,” Slaugh said. “I don’t consider this funding to be a loan. We’re providing a service. This isn’t something we should have to pay back.”
Iola Council members also tabled action on a recent study that indicated city employees are paid about 7.5 percent less on average than employees in comparable municipalities.
Bringing Iola’s payroll up to average would cost about $97,000. If the city spread out the pay hikes over three years, the cost would be about $32,000 annually, Slaugh said.
Council members said they wanted to visit once again with Employee Task Force members about potential savings in department budgets to help fund the pay increases before they commit.

ALLEN COUNTY Regional Hospital Administrator Ron Baker and Allen Community College President John Masterson attended Monday’s meeting to espouse the value of working with Van Scoyoc Associates, a Washington, D.C., lobbyist group the city has hired the past several years.
Baker said Van Scoyoc has been invaluable as local officials continue to work toward the potential addition of Veterans Affairs services locally, Baker said.
“All I can say is ‘Amen,’” Masterson agreed. “They are professional, and they know what they’re doing.”
The city pays Van Scoyoc $40,000 annually for its services. Previous councils have targeted that contract for potential budget cuts in previous years.
The $40,000 is included in the proposed 2015 budget.

COUNCIL members approved a request from Elyssa Jackson, representing PowerUp Iola, to close a portion of Jackson Avenue on the courthouse square Aug. 14 for a back-to-school block party.
The event will include performances by the Iola High School jazz band, the IHS and Iola Middle School bands, an evening movie on the courthouse lawn, school supply and prize giveaways, Kiwanis train rides and a cut-a-thon organized by local hair stylists, who will provide haircuts at discounted prices. PowerUp also will work with Allen County Farmer’s Market officials to encourage healthy meals for students, Jackson said.
Council members said their approval to close Jackson was contingent upon Iola Police Chief Jared Warner’s endorsement.
The Council also approved spending $6,000 as part of a contract amendment with Ponzer-Youngquist Engineering for system upgrades for control systems at the city’s water plant and wastewater lift stations.

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