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OFFICE OF THE ALBANY CITY TREASURER DATE: June 14, 2017 TO: Hon. Kathy M. Sheehan Members of the Common Council FROM: Hon. Darius Shahinfar CC: Rachel McEneny, Mike Wheeler RE: 1st quarter 2017 Performance The following is a summary of the unaudited results for the 1st Quarter 2017. Fiscal performance was stable and within budgetary expectations for 2017, with the exception of expenditures related to the snowstorms which leave the City hoping for a warm November and December 2017. Revenue in the first quarter of 2017 totaled $75.0 million which was almost $1.5M less than the same period last year at this time (because WCF bills were not booked this year until 2Q). Expenses totaled almost $33.9M which was an increase of 3.2% or over ($1M) compared to the first quarter of 2016, largely because of higher workers’ comp, health care and DGS snow removal related costs. REVENUE (Thousands) MAR MAR % MAR Annual % REVENUE YTD 17 YTD 16 Variance YTD 17 Budget Variance Budget PROPERTY TAX 57,909 56,794 1,115 2% 57,909 57,700 209 100% SALES/USE TAX 7,966 7,991 (25) 0% 7,966 34,112 (26,146) 23% PILOTS/19-a 2,865 2,716 149 5% 2,865 20,429 (17,564) 14% OTHER LOCAL SOURCES 314 315 0% 314 3,169 (2,855) 10% LANDFILL 1,715 2,911 (1,196) -41% 1,715 7,253 (5,538) 24% OTHER DEPARTMENTS 424 2,287 (1,863) -81% 424 5,647 (5,223) 8% INTER GOVERNMENT 43 48 -10% 43 97 (54) 44% FINES 1,295 1,194 101 8% 1,295 5,204 (3,909) 25% LICENSES AND PERMITS 1,059 653 406 62% 1,059 3,461 (2,402) 31% STATE AID 0 124 (124) 100% 0 29,181 (29,181) 0% SALE P/COMP/LOSS 7 42 (35) -83% 7 401 (394) 2% MISCELLANEOUS 1,433 1,426 7 0% 1,433 8,396 (6,963) 17% OTHER 11 9 2 22% 11 2,132 (2,121) 1% TOTAL REVENUE 75,041 76,510 (1,469) 75,041 177,182 (102,141) 42% ---PAGE BREAK--- 2 The chart above summarizes the City’s sources of revenue through March 31, 2017. 1. Property Tax revenue was higher than last year by $1.1M as result of the expansion of the tax base and over budget at the end of the first quarter as a result of paying a small number of assessment reductions by the end of the quarter. 2. Sales Tax revenue the first quarter sales tax revenue is almost the same as last year at $7.9M although we are below budget at 23% for the year in first quarter. 3. PILOTS/19-a revenue was 5% more than the same period last year. Most of the increase is due to the City timing of billing for PILOTS on the new ERP system. 4. Other Local sources revenue was almost the same as the first quarter of 2016. Utilities gross receipts decreased while interest fees on late property taxes increased. 5. Landfill revenue decreased 41% compared to the same period last year. Tipping fees decreased by almost $967K from commercial and municipal customers and contaminated soil decrease by $276K. However, revenue is near budget for the year, and increases are expected over the summer. 6. Other Departmental revenue was 81% ($1.9M) lower than the first quarter of 2016. Most of the decrease was the result of the billing of the 2017 waste collection fees were billed in April, rather than in March like they were in 2016. Rental registries were down $24K, APD Event Security revenue decreased by almost $95K and EMS Ambulatory revenue decreased by $60K. 7. Fines and Forfeitures revenue increased by 8% from last year. Both parking ticket fines and surcharges combined for an increase of $160K. Traffic violation fines were down by almost $60K. 8. Licenses and Permits revenue increased 62% ($406K) compared to the same period last year. Most of the increase is from the timing of billing demolition fees ($425K) on the new ERP system. Safety Inspection permits revenue increased by $41K and vacant building fees increased by $14K. Parking permit revenue decreased by $43K and street opening revenue decreased by $103K. ---PAGE BREAK--- 3 9. State aid – There was no revenue received by the end of the first quarter in 2017. Most of this revenue is derived from state grants and various state payments. The timing of these payments varies from year to year. 10. Miscellaneous revenue was almost the same compared to last year at $1.4M. This category is made up of refund of prior year expenses, special events revenue and reimbursements from ACDA. 11. Other revenue increased by $2K compared to the same period last year. Most of this revenue is derived from federal government grants and the timing of these payments varies from one year to the next. DISBURSEMENTS Category/Account MAR MAR % Annual % YTD 17 YTD 16 Variance Budget Variance Budget Personal Benefits 7100-7199 18,468,826 18,014,218 454,608 2.5% 75,585,026 (57,116,200) 24% Fringe Benefits 7801-7863 11,269,112 10,832,460 436,652 4.0% 52,104,600 (40,835,488) 22% Non-Personal Service 7210-7701 4,146,781 3,998,931 147,849 3.7% 49,574,779 (45,427,998) 8% Total 33,884,718 32,845,609 1,039,109 3.2% 177,264,405 (143,379,686) 19% Number of weeks in period 13 13 0 52 25% Total disbursements increased by over $1.0M or 3.2% compared to the same period last year. Spending was up in all of the categories Fringe Benefits, Personnel Benefits and Non-Personal Services compared to 2016. 1. Salary expense increased by 2.5% compared to the same period last year. This was still below budget at only 24%. The Fire department was up by $211K from last year, the Maintenance of Streets department increased by $113K and the Buildings and Codes department increased by $33K. This category also includes overtime expenses which ended the quarter $56K higher than in 2016 (due in part to the snowstorms). Most of the other City departments were at similar levels or had lower salary expenses for the quarter. 2. Benefits Expenses increased by 4.0% from the first quarter of last year. This category was below budget for the first quarter at 22%. Most of the ---PAGE BREAK--- 4 increase in this category was attributable to increases in workers compensation lines ($320K) and retiree and employee health insurance lines ($248K) because of higher claims. 3. Non-Personal Service spending increased by 3.7% or almost $148K. Not including encumbrances this category was only 8% of budget by the end of the first quarter. This category includes utilities, contracted services, supplies, materials, small equipment, consulting fees and debt service. The first quarter saw increases over last year in the following areas. DGS saw increases in the following accounts: gasoline expense ($100K), snow removal supplies and expense ($219K) and BRC saw demolitions expense increase ($333K). Debt service was lower by $230K. 4. Encumbrances (funds reserved for purchases) increased by almost $101K compared to the same period last year. Encumbrances total almost $6.5M at the end of the first quarter. OVERTIME % of Department 2017 2016 Change % 2017 Budget Budget Police (non-reimbursable) 994,813 940,241 54,572 6% 994,813 4,050,000 25% Fire 167,685 287,267 (119,582) -42% 167,685 439,000 38% Communications 52,547 42,311 10,236 24% 52,547 175,000 30% Parks Maintenance 67,131 26,511 40,620 153% 67,131 185,000 36% Waste Collection 63,816 42,909 20,907 49% 63,816 175,000 36% Landfill 56,434 37,827 18,607 49% 56,434 151,000 37% Central Maint. 11,672 7,722 3,950 51% 11,672 70,000 17% Street Maintenance 108,555 41,909 66,646 159% 108,555 270,000 40% Recreation 615 1,816 (1,201) -66% 615 12,000 5% Traffic Engineering 11,666 8,758 2,908 33% 11,666 45,000 26% Capital Hills 7,687 1,472 6,215 422% 7,687 26,000 30% Fleet Maintenance 15,712 1,545 14,167 917% 15,712 18,000 87% Bleeker Stadium 0 0 0 0% 0 600 0% Buildings 20,287 14,033 6,254 45% 20,287 50,000 41% DGS Administration 453 0 [PHONE REDACTED]% 453 2,500 18% Control of Animals 2,120 928 1,192 128% 2,120 9,000 24% Special Events 473 1,662 (1,189) -72% 473 0 100% General Fund 1,581,666 1,456,911 124,755 9% 1,581,666 5,678,100 28% Police (reimbursable) 241,128 249,424 (8,296) 241,128 1,200,000 20% Traffic Eng. (reimbursable) 0 0 0 0% 0 500 0% Water 142,558 168,144 (25,586) -15% 142,558 580,000 25% Totals 1,965,352 1,874,479 90,873 5% 1,965,352 7,458,600 26% General Fund overtime was over budget (28%) at the end of the first quarter. Excluding the Water Department (for which the City is reimbursed) and ---PAGE BREAK--- 5 reimbursable Police overtime, overtime expense was 9% ($125K) higher than the same period last year. The Street Maintenance department had the biggest increase in overtime payments which were up by almost $67K. Much of this was related to the additional work related to snow removal. The Fire department decreased by over $119K and posted its lowest 1Q OT since 2012, but ended the quarter at 38%. OT as expected was reduced as new recruits filled staffing gaps. The majority of departments have higher overtime expenses this year than last year. CASH The City’s cash position was 1% lower than forecasted and $671K lower than the same period last year. Most of the decrease is the result of paying out more for payroll from converting back to a 52 week pay period from a 53 week pay period last year. The City paid the school district’s portion of PILOT funds in January. The Water Department had an increase in the amount of invoices which are paid by the City and then reimbursed by the Water Board. ---PAGE BREAK--- 6 CONCLUSION The City saw a paper decrease in overall revenue in the first quarter compared to 2016, because of the timing of WCF billing. Expenses were up in the first quarter of 2017 compared to 2016, mostly as the result of increases in snow removal costs, worker’s compensation expenses and demolition expenses. Thus far there are no major surprises for 2017 other than the 3 snow emergencies, and the City is largely moving forward as expected financially. The City will have to continue to watch expenses closely and try to control them as much as possible, while continuing to push for revenue increases where it can locally, and at the State level where a permanent solution for the revenue gap caused by tax exempt properties remains the goal.