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r '- '11 ~~~"~~~l':'~:: ~~Ifll~ (Q E~ ~ARtI~$~ ~ ~ ~-~~ ,~~'"'~ ~\ ~~ ,,~~"""~-~~~ .so August 27, 2002 Honorable Mayor Michael J. Pfiester and Members of the City Council City of Paris Paris, Texas 75461 Re: 2002-2003 Operating Budget / Program of Services Honorable Mayor Pfiester and City Council Members: In accordance with Article V ofthe Charter of the City of Paris and all other applicable statutes and ordinances, I submit the proposed program of municipal services to be made available to the citizens of Paris for the 2002-2003 fiscal year. r It is always a challenge as public servants to craft a budget that will meet the needs of our citizens in maintaining and improving services. It is especially challenging this year when we are faced with a sharp decline in revenues from our municipal sales tax, franchise fees, interest earned and other declining revenues. Additionally, it has been necessary to add debt in the General Fund to finance the cost of providing a new Police and Municipal Court facility. To balance the General Fund, it has been necessary to add approximately nine and one-half cents to the tax rate to accommodate this new debt and to maintain the present level of services. The City Council has always been mindful that city government exists to provide services and that our employees are our most important asset. It is a very labor intensive operation and we recognize the importance of providing the wages and benefits that are one of the components of employee retention. Indeed, from 1985 through 2002, the employees of the city have received an annual average cost ofliving adjustment of3.26 %, an aggregate change that exceeded the Consumer Price Index for that period. Recognizing that it is important to treat all our employees fairly, I have attempted to budget for a cost of living increase each year that is equal to or exceeds the CPI for all employees. Included in the proposed budget is an increase of one and one-half percent for all employees, equal to the increase in the CPI for our area. Each year, if funds are available, an attempt is made to adjust individual positions for changes in the labor market or changes in responsibilities. This year, revenues are too lean to address such needs. ".--.- t{ One group of employees, the firefighters, through a citizen's petition process have availecl themselves of an opportunity that only they and police employees have of bringing the issue of minimum pay to the voters. Non-police and non-fire employees have not been afforded the same opportunity by the legislature. As presented, this ballot would require an average twenty-four " P.O. BOX 9037 . PARIS. TEXAS 75461-9037 · (903) 785-7511 . FAX (903) 785-8519