Two percent wage increase proposed to offset healthcare costs
By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
Whitewater officials are in the midst of a line item-by-line item review of the city’s 2014 budget. Several members of city staff and the Common Council have described the document as “status quo” in recent deliberations.
In early October, City Manager Cameron Clapper presented the council with a balanced budget, reflecting operating revenues and expenditures of $9.37 million. In 2013, the city’s budget totaled $9.14 million.
“This budget is the result of the diligent efforts of city staff in striving to maintain very modest and responsible department budgets,” Clapper said.
While Clapper and other department heads have been piecing together a recommended budget in recent months, Clapper emphasized it remained a work in progress when he presented the preliminary draft to the council a month ago.
“Input from the council and the community is warranted and welcomed,” Clapper said.
The city is planning to increase one of its primary sources of income – the property tax levy – by 1.76 percent. In 2013, Whitewater levied $2.429 million from local residents. In the year ahead, Cameron’s budget proposes $2.473 million in levy income.
The state has been placing tax levy restrictions on municipalities in recent years. The trend continues in the year ahead as Wisconsin municipalities can only increase the levy based on a calculation reflecting new construction within the community.
Also on the revenue side, Clapper’s budget proposal reflects an anticipated increase of about $86,389 in transportation aid – the direct result of major road projects that were completed this past year.
On the flip side, however, the city is grappling with several increasing expenses, including an anticipated $44,254 rise in health insurance premiums in 2014.
At this point, most of the city’s employees are now paying the 12 percent health insurance premiums and 50 percent contributions toward their Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS) pensions that are a result of Gov. Scott Walker’s Act 10 legislation.
To help offset employees’ rising costs, Clapper has asked the council to approve a proposed 2-percent wage increase for most employment groups.
“I feel it would be appropriate to provide an increase in compensation for non-sworn employees,” Clapper said.
Whenever possible, Clapper said the city is attempting to make nips and tucks to the budget. Case in point: state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) dam inspections are now going to be done in-house in his budget proposal, rather than be conducted by an outside firm. The maneuver is expected to save the city about $12,500.
The city’s parks and recreation department is planning to expand its program budget by $7,000 to accommodate new Zumba and gymnastics programs. That expense however, is expected to be offset, in large part, by user fees.
Clapper has been reviewing the budget with the council throughout October and will continue doing so into November. One iffy item not reflected in the proposed budget, is the city’s participation in the Janesville-Milton-Whitewater Innovation Program.
Whitewater’s participation in the program expires at the end of this year, and city officials have asserted attendance has been paltry.
The city has scheduled a formal public hearing during a Common Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 19, at City Hall, 312 W. Whitewater St. The council is expected to adopt the budget after the hearing.
