FY 2020 Budget

Budget Impact: The Communication Center continues to provide quality emergency dispatch services. The department puts an emphasis on continuing education and training and this budget continues to allow employees to review the required training they need to have to perform their duties. There are no proposed changes to the department under the Fiscal Year 2020 budget. Any changes to the overall amount being budgeted is due to inflationary costs, cost of living salary increases, pension (IPERS) contribution increases and increases in group health insurance. The city stopped payments into the Communication Center Reserve fund in Fiscal Year 2019. Based upon the current balance in the fund, the department has sufficient money available to meet any unplanned expenditures. The rational behind the decision is that all department expenses are split 50/50 with Clay County and the fact that the current operation centers is only five years old and is equipped with all new equipment. The reserve fund is not responsible for the future replacement of the E-911 communication system which is funded by the Clay County E-911 Board. There is only one identified project in the CIP that requires the use of Communication Center reserve funds, and that amount is relatively minor. The city will continue to monitor the balance within the Reserve fund and begin contributions at a time when they become necessary.

Future Concerns:

While not an immediate concern, there are members of the department that in the coming five years have the ability to retire from service with the department. Finding quality replacements is increasingly difficult. The move to eliminate the part-time dispatchers arose out of this difficulty in finding quality dispatchers.

Percent of General Fund Expenditures (net transfers)

Employees

8.3

8.3

8.3

7.3

2

0

0

0

Actual 16/17 Actual 17/18 Budget 18/19 Budget 19/20

Communicati on Center 5%

Number of Employees (FTEs)

Part Time Employees

79