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From YouTube: This Week in Ames
Description
Finance Director Duane Pitcher stops by studio 16 to talk with Susan about the City's budget.
A
B
Well,
we've
been
working
on
the
budget
for
several
months
now.
Our
first
period
of
involvement
was
in
October
when
we
help
the
town
budget
meeting,
which
you
attended,
ID
and
that's
when
we're
just
beginning
the
process
with
the
public.
So
we
get
input
on
kind
of
things
that
they
would
like
to
see
more
or
less
of
in
the
budget.
B
Based
on
that
and
finally,
we
tell
them
to
prepare
their
budgets
and
we
spend
several
months
working
on
that
and
going
through
those
items,
and
we've
already
been
to
counsel
with
our
capital
improvement
plan,
this
past
Tuesday,
and
that
was
on
the
fifteenth
of
January
on
the
twenty-second,
we'll
take
the
capital
improvement
plan
for
a
public
hearing.
So
that
will
be
the
public's
opportunity
to
give
input
on
the
capital
improvement
plan.
That's
on
the
website
right
now,
so
anybody
can
take
a
look
at
that.
Well,.
A
B
More
or
less,
we
have
a
capital
improvement
plan
which
is
a
five-year
plan,
and
that
just
gives
us
an
idea
to
help
us
plan
out
for
those
things
that
take
longer
to
fund,
and
we
really
need
a
longer
time
horizon
that
first
year
the
plan
gets
adopted
with
our
regular
budget
and
and
that's
our
only
spending
authority
is
that
first
year.
The
rest
of
the
capital
improvement
plan
is
just
a
plan
to
help
us
with
planning
and
help
the
citizens
and.
B
Yeah
good
one
people,
I
think
are
well
aware
of-
is
the
library
renovate
renewal
that's
been
on
the
plan
for
a
couple
years
now.
You
know
there's
several
steps
that
take
place
for
that
project
because
it
required
a
vote.
Obviously,
so
we
had
the
vote
timed
out
and
then
the
smaller
amount
of
expenditures
that
led
up
to
that.
Then
we
had
other
years
where
we
had
expenditures
for
the
design
and
right
now,
we're
in
course
to
the
construction
process
and
the
libraries
is
moved
over
to
their
current
location
right.
A
B
Type
of
street
improvement
would
be
included
on
an
error
trying
to
think
of
some
other
ones.
The
big
portion
would
be
in
our
utilities,
so
any
type
of
improvements
to
keep
those
plants
running
and
also
the
underground
infrastructure
that
people
don't
see,
but
it's
also
very
important
that
would
be
included
in
that
plan.
So,
though
you
know
those
are
things
that
we,
you
know,
we
can't
just
be
funding
as
they
come
up.
We
really
need
to
be
major.
A
B
And
that's
the
general
day-to-day
operations
of
the
city
and
includes
all
the
utilities.
Now
we
every
year,
of
course,
upgrade
that
that
budget
and
move
through
that
process.
This
coming
are
a
week
from
Friday
on
the
first
and
februari
will
be
going
to
the
council
in
the
afternoon
on
a
regular
meeting
time
and
myself
and
the
city
manager,
Steve
shanker,
will
spend
minimally
a
couple
hours
going
over
the
the
big
picture
of
the
budget
and
then
in
the
following
week
on
believe.
It's
the
5th
6th
and
7th
of
februari,
a
Tuesday,
Wednesday
and
Thursday.
B
March
fifteenth
now
we'll
go
the
fifth
of
March,
which
is
a
tuesday,
our
first
regular
council
meeting
in
march
and
there's
a
couple
things
we're
doing
at
that
meeting.
Actually,
several
one
we
have
to
certify
our
budget
and
that
creates
the
spending
authority
and
we
also
certify
our
property
taxes.
That,
of
course,
is
the
part
that
needs
to
go
to
the
county
so
that
they
can
put
together
all
the
other
taxing
authorities
and
send
out
the
bills
for
that.
B
B
B
Actually
more
than
fifty
percent,
are
payments
for
services
for
our
utilities,
so
the
water,
the
sewer,
the
electric
and
storm
sewer,
are
paid
for
as
you
use
them
now
we
don't
use
the
storms
or
so
to
speak,
but
our
property
is
served
by
the
storm
sewer,
the
water
that
runs
off.
Obviously,
we
want
that
to
to
go
elsewhere
so
that
we
were
just
changing
that
billing
process,
as
you
know,
in
that
area.
B
Expenses
that
makes
about
fifty
percent
of
our
revenue
ins
about
fifty
percent
of
our
expenses
are
those
charges
for
services
which
are
mainly
utilities
but
there's
several
other
areas
if
you've
ever
used
any
of
our
recreation
classes.
All
those
include
a
fee
that
pays
for
the
direct
cost
of
class
doesn't
always
pay
for
the
facility,
but
it
does
pay
for
use
of
that
keeps
up
the
operation.
A
good
example,
dr
firm,
an
aquatic
center,
the
fees
that
people
pay
the
for
the
annual
pass
or
the
daily
visits
fund
all
of
the
operation
of
that
facility.
B
Now
we
have
some
debt
service
fund
that
helps
pay
for
the
facility
actually
pays
for
all
of
it.
We
voted
for
that,
but
there's
no
additional
cost
to
the
taxpayer
to
operate
that
facility.
So
that
there's
a
couple
examples.
We
also
get
grants
transits
a
good
example
of
that
there's,
federal
funding
and
that's
a
unique
operation
and
that
part
of
the
funding
comes
from
students
through
their
fees.
Part
comes
from
the
city
from
property,
taxes
and
part
comes
from
the
University,
but
there's
a
lot
of
different
sources.
A
B
Certainly,
do
this
year's
budget,
of
course,
we're
still
putting
together.
So
that's
not
online
yet,
but
last
year's
is
on
there
and
you
know
if
you're
not
interested
in
going
through
all
the
details,
which
you
know
I,
think
some
people
wouldn't
be
there's
a
good
summary
information
included
in
that
document.
Also,
then,
some
people
also
would
be
interested
in
the
details.
Maybe
if
they're
an
interest
in
you
know
how
do
we
determine
how
much
money
we're
going
to
spend
on
cleaning
streets?
B
You
know,
there's
there's
a
page
on
that,
and
it
tells
you
you
know
how
much
per
mile
it
costs
to
clean
streets
and
how
often
we
do
it
and
we
provide
all
our
service
efforts
and,
as
you
know,
you
know
if
we
want
to
provide
a
higher
level
of
service
it
in
most
cases
is
going
to
cost
a
little
bit
more.
So
those
are
some
of
the
decisions
that
the
city
council
makes
so
at
X
level
service.
It's
this
many
dollars
and
that's
kind
of
where
they
adjust
that
so.
B
Each
service
that
we
have
there's
at
least
a
couple
pages
that
describes
it
service,
tell
us
how
much
we
spend
on
it
and
there's
another
page
that
provides
some
different
measures
on.
You
know
the
cost
per
units
and
that
sort
of
thing
for
those
services,
and
then
we
have
some
summaries
again
in
the
back
of
the
documents.
A
The
last
year's
budget
is
online
and
you
can
open
it
up.
It's
a
big
file
takes
a
little
bit
to
load,
but
it's
just
full
of
really
interesting
information
about
why
things
cost
what
they
cost
about
the
service
levels
that
are
offered
about
what
it
would
cost
to
ratchet
that
service
level
up,
but
just
really
good
information.
This
coming
budget
won't
be
online
for
a
while,
but
it
will
be
when
it's
when
it's
approved
as.
B
Soon,
as
it's
sent
out
to
the
council
will
have
a
draft
out
available
online,
so
the
public
can
see
exactly
what
the
city
council
sees
so
that
the
day
it's
sent
to
them
will
post
it
out
on
the
web
site
that
same
day,
so
it
will
be
marked
draft,
because
the
council
will
have
not
approved
it
will
be
available
and
also
on
the
februari
first
friday.
That
document
will
take
to
council.
Then
that
provides
a
lot
of
kind
of
big
picture.
B
B
Occasionally,
you
know
it's
usually
more
specifics,
they're
interested
in
a
certain
project
or
you
know
a
certain
thing.
Obviously,
people
are
interested
in
what's
going
to
impact
them,
so
I
think
a
lot
of
the
questions
go
to
the
departments
that
are
in
charge
of
delivering
the
service.
So
if
there's
going
to
be
a
street
improvement
in
my
area,
I
may
be
interested
in
when
that's
going
to
happen
and
what
impact
that's
going
to
have
on
me.
So
I
think
we
get
more
of
those
questions
and
then
just
kind
of
the
general
questions
about
the
budget.
B
A
B
I
would
say
so:
I
mean
we've
really
stressed
that
it's
dollars
to
deliver
a
service,
and
if
we
don't
deliver
that
service,
we
don't
collect
those
dollars
anymore.
For
you
know,
example
based
on
some
input
from
the
state
and
other
things.
We
no
longer
do
the
restaurant
inspection
through
the
city
that
there
were
some
tax
dollars
that
came
along
with
that
those
dollars
left
the
bud,
along
with
the
service,
so
I
think
tying
those
together
really
kind
of
helps
to
keep
the
the
budget
where
it
is.
B
There
are
some
state
limitations
on
our
tax
levies,
the
main
one
being
on
the
general
levy
at
eight
dollars
and
ten
cents.
The
city
is
well
under
that
limit,
so
we
are
not
taxing
it
at
the
level
that
we
can
tax.
If
you
look
at
a
lot
of
other
cities,
they
tax
at
that
level.
At
the
limit
we
tax
at
the
level
that
is
required
to
provide
the
services
that
the
council
and
the
citizens
have
decided
that
they
want
well.
A
A
Interesting
topic
again
available
on
our
website.
If
anybody
wants
to
look
at
those
documents
they're
available
for
viewing
they,
of
course,
the
numbers
change
year
to
year,
but
some
of
the
basic
knowledge
you
can
kind
of
gather
from
some
of
the
previous
year's
documents
and
Dwayne
I
know
you're
available.
If
anybody
has
any
questions,
absolutely.
B
A
If
you're
interested
in
seeing
the
city
of
Ames
budget
means
but
can't
attend
the
actual
meeting,
why
don't
you
check
us
out
online?
You
can
watch
channel
12
through
your
internet
connection
and
if
you
actually
miss
that
show
you
can
check
in
on
video
on
demand.
Well,
that's
our
show
for
today,
thanks
for
watching
and
tune
in
next
week
for
this
weekend,
Ames.