Over the last few years in the face of budget constraints, the City of Manhattan Beach has scrapped vacant full-time positions and in turn relied heavily on its part-time workforce. But limited benefits, among other causes, have given way to a revolving door of these part-time employees, who are usually inclined to pursue full-time opportunities elsewhere.
Now, with a projected surplus of $2 million in the city’s general fund by this fiscal year’s end, city officials are looking to consolidate numerous part-time positions and restore its full-time workforce to its 2008-2009 level of 278 employees.
“We have somewhat referred to this as a rebuilding year for the city,” Finance Director Bruce Moe told the Manhattan Beach City Council Tuesday night. “ … It’s time for us to start rebuilding and bringing back the resources we need to meet [the high demands for service].”
Moe introduced to council Tuesday the proposed operating budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Proposed staffing additions include 10 full-time positions: a management analyst, three information system specialists, a recreation supervisor, a senior account services representative, two MBPD administrative clerks, a community services officer and a permits technician.
For the upcoming fiscal year, general fund revenues are projected at $57.5 million – an 8.3-percent increase from last year’s budget – contributed by increases in property tax, sales tax and property-related revenues.
On the other hand, general fund expenditures are projected at $58.6 million, a 10.5-percent increase from last year’s budget. While that leaves a projected deficit of $1.1 million, Moe explained that “it is not a point to be alarmed about.”
“Many of the funds we’re talking about by nature run a deficit every few years,” he said. “You save up within that fund to build projects, and when you program those projects, within that one given year you would not show revenues that exceed what you’re programming in expenditures.”
In April, the city rolled out the new Information System Master Plan, a technology roadmap for the next five years. The first-year projects, factored in this budget at a cost of $1.5 million, include upgrades to permitting, financial and human resources systems, as well as enhanced data collection and user-friendly document management systems.
Additionally, the purchase of 44 replacement vehicles—totaling $2.4 million, including $1.1 million carried over from last year—is factored in the budget, as well as a $1.1 million transfer to the Capital Improvement Plan funds.
The city’s joint-use agreement with MBUSD was not included in this budget, but Mayor Pro Tem Amy Howorth reassured that if council approves the agreement at the May 21 meeting, they can direct staff to prioritize and identify funding sources.
“It’s not a signal to the community that we’re not going do this,” she said.
The finalized budget will come before council for adoption on June 4.
Upcoming budget study sessions at the Police/Fire conference room: Parks and Recreations, Human Resources and Public Works Departments, Thursday at 6 p.m.; Police and Fire Departments, Tuesday, May 14 at 6 p.m.; Community Development, Management Services and Finance Departments, Thursday, May 16 at 6 p.m.
