Oakridge Budget Committee Meeting #3

By KATE DOLAN/for The Herald  —  The Oakridge Budget Committee convened on May 9 for Budget Committee Meeting #3 to review and discuss the Police Department and Fire and EMS Department funds. The Committee is in the process of preparing the city’s budget for the Fiscal Year 2023-24 which begins on July 1. A final proposed budget presented to City Council will consist of expenditures and resources for each of the city’s funds.

Police Department budget presented to the committee

Before twelve city council members and citizens attending in person at City Hall, and a handful more attending via Zoom, Oakridge Police Chief Kevin Martin presented the budget for the police department, which outlined expenditures related to personnel, materials, and services. Mr. Martin elaborated on the prior year’s costs and proposed budget changes to reflect the department’s need and current circumstances.

An increase from FY 22/23 was proposed for personnel costs, which include wages and benefits for members of the police department. For materials and services, which includes line items such as uniforms, cell phones, fuel, repair and maintenance, a decrease from FY 22/23 is proposed. Mr. Martin proposed increases to specific line items, such as travel and training.

CMAQ funds may be available to offset some costs

Attendees had questions regarding Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funds which Mr. Martin says are earmarked for the city of Oakridge, amounting to over $900,000. These funds must be applied for and approved by ODOT for their usage. Mr. Martin expressed that they may apply for the funds in August, which he explained is when prices for vehicles are announced. Mr. Martin also mentioned alternative sources of revenue he plans to bring to City Council in the future.

With five full-time officers, wage expenditures will need increases

Mr. Martin acquainted council members and meeting attendees with the city’s police department, which consists of five full-time officers. The Oakridge police department provides contract police services to the cities of Lowell and Westfir and animal control services for the city of Oakridge.

Fire Chief Scott Hollett then presented changes in the emergency services budget from last year. Costs for personnel are not seeing many changes, with the exception of an increase in health insurance expenditures.

Fire and EMS will require additional funds for previously deferred supplies

Proposed budget increases include funds for EMS and fire fighting supplies, which will cover the significant rise in cost for those supplies. According to Mr. Hollett, the department has been underfunded in the past for supplies such as hoses and nozzles and the proposed increase will allow for the purchase of equipment this year.

Firefighting clothing is particularly costly

There is an increase in the proposed amount for uniform costs and protective clothing. Mr. Hollett elaborated on the department’s need, explaining that boots alone are $400 and turnouts, the protective clothing worn by firefighters, cost $3,200 each, which doesn’t include helmets, gloves, or boots.

“This is the first time in many years that we’ve been able to put some money away for new equipment,” said Mr. Hollett who emphasized the need for a new heart monitor and a plan to purchase a LUCAS device, which provides chest compressions in a cardiac arrest scenario.

Mr. Hollett talked briefly about staffing and operations, saying that the department was at “pretty good staffing levels” with 4 full time employees and 9 part time staff. There are just over 20 volunteers.

Replacing ambulances will be a priority

Other points of discussion involved vehicle replacement, repair and maintenance fees. Mr. Hollett pointed to a future need to replace ambulances, the older of which has 200,000 miles and the newer one with 150,000.

To finalize the budget for adoption by City Council in June, the budget committee will further review general funds as well as library, building and planning, and parks funds over the next two weeks. Two budget committee meetings were added to the schedule last night and upcoming meetings are set for May 15, 17, 22, and 24 at 7p.m.

To view budget forms and to learn total requirements for each fund, from Public Works to the General fund, visit https: //www.ci.oakridge.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/budget_committee/page/10631/fy_23-24_proposed_budget_first_draft.pdf.

Many fund beginning balances appear robust

Oakridge City Administrator and Budget Officer, James Cleavenger, stated in a message to the budget committee dated on April 17, 2023, that many parts of this year’s budget are similar to the prior year but also highlighted how it has changed, writing, “there are some differences, such as our estimated beginning fund balances, which are more robust that they have been in at least a decade.”

“That increase in financial strength was the result of frugal spending and shifting our investment strategy by prioritizing capital investments,” Mr. Cleavenger wrote in the message, which communicated a positive economic outlook for the city, and emphasized the significance of the Budget Committee’s role and work.

Committee Chair Michelle Coker was absent from the meeting but plans to return in person next week.