City of Bloomington, Indiana Public Safety Local Income Tax Committee, 13 Aug 2021

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From YouTube: Bloomington Public Safety Local Income Tax Committee, August 13, 2021

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A

um I'll I'll call the meeting to order. This is the public safety, local income tax committee of.

A

The monroe county, local income tax council, uh it's friday uh uh august 13 2021 11- am.

A

We're conducting this meeting via zoom due to the restrictions on pandemic and I'll.

A

Ask mr lucas, if you all call the role sure my pleasure committee, member smith here mckim here.

B

Munson, here piedmont, smith, here sims here, scandalory yeah and purcell yeah. Thank you.

A

Thank you, mr lucas uh agenda summation. Is that we're going to discuss recommendations to monroe.

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County local income, tax council rates allocations and distributions of ps lit revenues for 2022.

A

We have four items on it: presentation of uh the lit rates and revenues uh and then we'll.

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Accept a motion and then we'll talk about the remaining revenues and how they're distributed.

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And we'll accept the motion on that. We'll take some public comment during the meeting and.

A

That will probably be our business for today.

A

So uh if uh we can, let's uh dive right in to item a on our agenda, presentation of estimated.

A

Public safety lit rates and revenues and uh who will present that? Are you going to present that.

A

Mr lucas, I'm happy to uh if either mike rick or jennifer lloyd has anything to add there they're.

B

Welcome to chime in, but in your packet, you all should have received a estimated distribution.

B

Report that the state dlgf provided it lists estimates for all of the counties in.

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Indiana I highlighted monroe counties and the relevant figure, for you all is the amount for.

B

The public safety portion of the lint and uh the august estimate came in at 9 million 25 682.

B

So that's on, I believe, the second page of that five page report you all received in the packet.

B

It's also reflected in the table uh the last page of your packets that included the the.

B

Psl distribution history, so, um if you'll give me just a moment I'll I'll display this just briefly.

B

Thank you. Are you all able to see the spreadsheet? Yes, we can yes, so.

B

This revenue estimate here nine million twenty five thousand six. Eighty two again, this is the.

B

um Estimate that the state provided and this figure uh may change um this is an estimate that.

B

They provide in early august. uh The final amount won't be known until uh later in the year, and this.

B

Figure in the past has and can change. So um that's what we have to work on work from at the moment.

B

Mike or jennifer, I don't know if you have anything to add. I believe it's november, when the state.

B

Issues the uh the final certified amounts that the the counties receive so with that.

B

I'm happy to answer any questions um and before we I guess move on, I I will just.

B

Explain this is the total revenue estimate. What you all hear today will need to decide.

B

From that total revenue amount, the dispatch center has received funding.

B

Each year that comes off of the top before the remaining amount is then divided according to.

B

A state formula among the four units of government, the county city of bloomington,.

B

Town of ellisville and town of steinsville, so from this total amount, you'll hear from amy hensley on.

B

How much the dispatch center is requesting for their budget and then the remaining amount will be.

B

Distributed in certified shares to those four units of government so happy to answer.

B

Any questions this should be something you all have seen in the past, so um committee members.

A

uh Do you have any questions or discussion at this point, mr mckim? Yes, I just kind of.

C

Wanted to note that this number that we just received from the state represents about a.

C

Five percent um decrease from uh 2021 uh that we receive in 2022. uh it's. You know. I guess the way.

C

I look at it is not too bad for a pandemic economy. um This represents primarily income earned in the.

C

Year, 2020., it's the tax return, it's basically tax returns that are fi that have been filed.

C

From september september, 1st 2020 to june 30th of 2021 you'll notice that that's a.

C

10-Month period, rather than a 12-month period as it normally is, because the previous tax return.

C

Collection period was extended to 14 months so um that to some degree there might have been some.

C

uh Revenue from tax returns that probably should have been in this year that actually we received.

C

Last year, um so you know in a way, last year we saw about a nine percent increase this year.

C

We saw about a five percent decrease, um so you know you've been smoothing that out a little bit.

C

uh And assuming that there are some of those returns that probably should have been.

C

uh This year had we had normal 12-month periods. I I even though you know, obviously an increase would.

C

Have been better than the decrease? That's it's not too bad, given that uh substantial.

C

Portions of the economy were shut down during part of 2020.. That's that's kind of my gloss.

C

On those numbers well, thank you. Thank you for clarifying that. That's that's an important fact.

A

It's not too bad for coming out of a pandemic. um Any other committee members wish to comment.

A

Or ask a question before we uh move on to uh miss hemsley, to tell us about the uh dispatch.

A

We good okay. Well then, uh I guess uh central dispatch, which wishes to.

A

Talk about the tax revenues and tax rate and their request that would be great go ahead.

A

Go for it amy. I think you're uh can't hear you.

A

How's that oh there we go, thank you uh so from the spreadsheet you see that was provided. That shows.

D

Our 2022 request, you'll see the biggest increase is in the the staffing we are following the.

D

Novak report, and it was based on not only our call volume, but also on the the changes in the.

D

Environment, the amount of runs that we cover and the novac report had recommended 9.5 ftes.

D

Above what we had in the year that they did that so last year we increased by three and a half.

D

And it was on a three-year plan, so this year we plan to increase by three.

D

And next year, by three, which will bring us up to the recommended level by the novac report.

D

So that is one of the big differences you see in the salaries, the other big difference you see in.

D

The salaries is that when we looked at salaries around the state- and we looked at staffing levels,.

D

And how do we retain who we've got and recruit better? Who.

D

Would make a good dispatcher? We noticed that other people who had a better retention rate were paying.

D

Considerably higher than we were, so we did a comparison and found that salaries needed to be.

D

Brought up about nine percent to be comparable with other people around us uh that had good.

D

Retention rates, and so part of what you see in that increase amount is a salary increase of.

D

Nine percent, with for across the board, and also with our increased staffing, um we were hoping to.

D

As as we are working along, one of the things we're hoping is to lower our overtime.

D

But with increased staffing and more people and more slots that over time, I think we'll be doing.

D

Good, if we can keep the overtime rate about the same about of what we've spent in the past, this.

D

Year, we are down in our overtime rate a little bit, but I think our overtime will be comparable.

D

To what you see in in 18 and 19, uh possibly 20., so that's why it has gone up some, the the other.

D

Increases in the fica and the health insurance is just based on more individuals in our staffing.

D

The other changes you're going to see is in the 5240 other supplies line. We had used.

D

Amounts that we did not need in that line to transfer to shortfalls in our building repairs.

D

And so for the 2022, what I've done is I've just automatically taken it out and put it in the.

D

Account where we needed it to start with, so that for better tracking purposes, we see where money is.

D

Going and and we can keep better track of that in our capital line, uh one of the things that we ran.

D

Into with, with covid and um just different things that we're seeing all together.

D

uh Two portable 911 systems, which are called vesta command positions. They would be.

D

A command position that if our building was compromised or if we needed to do any major repair.

D

um That was noisy. uh We had one time where we had to evacuate and disinfect, because I covered.

D

And for those circumstances, having two vesta command positions or mobile, 911 call taking.

D

Positions would be critical, and so I have 64 000 for two vesta commands in our capital equipment.

D

We have a mutual aid agreement with uh iu and they let us come over there, but they only have.

D

Anywhere from one to two positions to give us for call taking and with the need of.

D

Our center- that's not enough, so if, for any reason we are having.

D

To close our center or relocate temporarily, the two vesta commands are going to be critical for us.

D

And we would be able to set those up anywhere that there is internet capability through the city, vpn.

D

The other capital equipment that I've put in for is 15 600 for replacement portable radios.

D

um The vesta command that I described is a call taking position and would give us call taking in.

D

Cad alone, but would not give us the ability to talk to our responders out in the field.

D

So we rely heavily when we do have to make changes like that or if, for some reason, our.

D

Radio system is in need of of work and repairs. We rely heavily on a small set of portables.

D

And with some of the changes the state is making and the age of our current portables.

D

We're going to be in need of replacing some of those.

D

This won't replace all of them, but this gives us a real good start and we'll replace our oldest ones.

D

Other than that, the remaining capital request.

D

Is is for headsets and some it it's tdma software upgrade, which is a necessary upgrade to a radio.

D

Software based on changes the state is making that will require us to make that change as well.

D

That was the main thing I had um we've.

D

Increased the contractual uh a little bit in the um communications contract and part.

D

Of that is because we're picking up a rave feature and we've had increased fiber costs.

A

All right committee members: do you have questions or discussions that.

A

You would like to uh chat with uh dimion mr sims.

E

Thank you, chair smith, um ms hensley, thank you for that report. um I guess the one question I do have.

E

I may have more, but we with regard to retention, um and you said we in comparison, we with other.

E

Entities we need about a nine percent increase um and that's fairly understandable. I guess my.

E

Question is: have you identified any other factors with retention other than salary.

D

The call volume is very heavy on the dispatchers right now and it it it's kind of it's kind of a.

D

Domino effect or a cycle, and- and that is when we lose people- then the call the number of calls.

D

Distributed among less people make a much higher call volume.

D

So if we can increase salaries, get more here and and keep them here, and if people are making a.

D

Better income, it makes them a little more patient with the workload that they carry.

D

And so if we can retain them, then through offering a better.

D

Salaries, the the outcome of that is that, with more people, the call volume per person is less.

E

Okay, thank you and I have one follow-up. If I may miss chair smith, please do uh miss.

E

Hinsley, when you did a comparison um and I'm assuming that's a regional comparison,.

E

um Can you share with us the areas that you we were compared with? Is that contiguous counties.

E

For an example, we looked at contiguous counties. We also looked at counties that had similar.

D

Similar call volumes a lot of them had a minimum of five and a supervisor in the room at all times,.

D

We have a minimum right now of four and a supervisor in the room part of the time.

D

So so, following the novak report, as I did the investigation into some of that, I found that.

D

The novak report was right on target with, where we needed to be heading and and what.

D

Their recommendations were so I looked at clark county. They had a similar call volume.

D

I looked at morgan county, they had a lot lower call volume, but they are contiguous. I looked at.

D

Other just the other counties around us.

D

I mean I can pull up that comparison. Oh no, that that's! No! That's fine! um That's something! We can.

E

Talk about later, I just wanted to get an idea of the process, so thank you very much. You're welcome.

A

Mr mckim, I believe, miss pimon smith was forced, so so sorry isabel, please go ahead. Isabel.

F

No problem, um so I just wanted to know what is the average salary of a dispatch employee average.

D

Right now, I'm not sure what the average is.

D

Right now our base is at 39.8, and I found out that morgan county's base right now is like 43 3.

D

So for a short drive, that's not much difference. They have a lot lower call volume. They have.

D

Five or six in the room at all time, even with a lower call volume and a working supervisor.

D

So so that was one of the major factors um you know that I talked to them at great lengths.

D

And I also found that in the last three years, they've only lost two dispatchers one didn't.

D

Make it through the training process and one had always wanted to be an officer on the street.

D

And was able to acquire one of the open street positions, so they did not even.

D

Though they lost them as a dispatcher, since they stayed uh in that department and field.

D

They didn't feel like that was a loss, but but they did lose two dispatchers in three years.

F

So the it sounds like the nine percent increase is exactly what we need to bring us up to.

F

Morgan county, it it's a real good start. That brings us up to, um I think, 43 050, for a base.

D

So, okay good! Well! Thank you you're welcome! Thank you. Miss need matt smith, mr mckim. Yes, thanks.

C

Yeah we have the same issue with um losing sheriff's deputies to morgan county as well.

C

The salaries are better, the workload is less.

C

And so actually I have two kind of very different questions. I wanted to follow up on the turnover.

C

Issue- and I'm just wondering, does, does the city do any kind of exit interviews with employment.

C

Employees who who leave do we know that it's only the salary? Could there be other reasons? Why.

C

Employees might be they offer uh one. I don't think they're required to fill it.

D

Out but they do offer one, and has there been any information provided in any.

C

Any of those forms that might lead to the reasons why they leave is it always just to take a higher.

C

Pay position in another another jurisdiction. Sometimes it's a career increase um like from.

D

To center training, officer or or or something to that effect, they.

D

They go, for you know a career advancement, uh sometimes it's salary. Sometimes it's.

D

The stress of the job and they just get burnt out and leave and they look for something.

D

Totally different, some of who we have lost, have been lost either shortly after we hired them or.

D

uh We've hired them and then they never get in the door, because everybody everywhere is short-handed.

D

And trying to retain people, and so what we found is is sometimes people would leave and come to us.

D

And then their old employer would contact him and say if I gave you if I gave you this job.

D

And an extra ten thousand dollars would you come back and we've lost people like that.

C

Thanks um and I guess the other question I had had to do more with with the capital- and I you know, I.

C

Think that the the capital expenditures that you you're proposing are certainly justified. I don't.

C

Have any problem with that? I'm just wondering if there is, uh if there are you know my understanding.

C

Is that the reversions, at the end of the year, get put into it uh some kind of fund.

C

That's restricted for use on capital items for the dispatch center. I'm just wondering if we have any.

C

Of those reversions available for uh use for the capital items rather than new.

C

uh Public safety lit money, one of the things that we talked about in a meeting.

D

Yesterday, with some city and county people was coming up with a a 10-year capital plan to.

D

See exactly what we are going to be looking at on a 10-year projection.

D

And they have tasked me with starting to put that together and then meeting again in october to.

D

Look at some of that uh beyond that, I can't answer that question.

D

Understand it's more on! That's a question more on the controller's office side that that's you.

C

Know I understand you're focused on the uh on the budgeting on the purchase side. You need what you.

C

Need to run the dispatch center, so I guess yeah. My question is more of a finance question. I I.

C

Believe that there are unspent appropriations from past years that could be spent on used on this.

C

On these capital items for inter-local, and so I would like, if possible, if the.

C

Attorneys could maybe city and county attorneys could uh get together and find out from um the.

C

Controller's office and our auditor's office, if there are any unspent appropriations, I'll.

C

Be supporting this budget in the committee, but before we vote on it and county council, I would.

C

Definitely like to see if there's somewhere else, we could we could get those capital items from.

C

Thank you. We have any any response from anybody from the city uh for mr mckim's uh query.

A

Or the county or the county sure this is margie rice. um I can address that.

G

I think that we've, we should definitely ask the city controller, to provide some information. Some.

G

Financial information, it seems to me that we have been having surpluses and that they go into you.

G

Know through a fund- and I believe that there have been a lot- you know surpluses every year that have.

G

Been going into this fund and that jeff's instinct is right: there's probably money there for that, but.

G

I think we're going to need some numbers from the city controller's office to figure that out.

G

So if you guys can get that information with us, we will definitely you know I can reach out to mike.

G

Ricker and- and we can work on that- uh this is mike rooker- sorry about that city attorney. I don't. I.

H

I had to step away for just a minute, and so I didn't hear the crux of the question.

H

There I'm sorry jeff uh jeff. Would you like to ask that question to mr rooker sure, then the crux of.

C

The issue is on the capitol items, I'm wondering if there aren't um reversions from past years, where.

C

I know we've run a surplus and by the interlocal. I believe that that money is supposed to go into.

C

A fund, that's then restricted to capital items for the dispatch center. I would like to see if there's.

C

Any uh past reversions that could be used to fund the capital items on this budget rather than new.

C

um Ps lit money, and- and I do want to just comment- real quick and margie- may be able.

H

To jump in, although yesterday a number of folks from the city met and amy was on that call as well.

H

Met with jeff cockerell and angie purdy and uh kim. Oh, my goodness, what is kim's name kim.

H

On the county um to talk about that precise issue and we had sort of.

H

What we had discussed doing and margie, please feel free to jump in from the county side on this. What.

H

We had discussed doing is setting aside or trying to establish something like a 10-year capital.

H

Plan- I don't know why something like, but a 10-year capital plan, to look at what capital expenditures.

H

Dispatch may have in the future and to use that sort of as a guidepost. For what level of.

H

Reserves are appropriate for those future capital expenditures um and then, if we do have significant.

H

Reserves- and I think we have a you- know- a healthy reserve for dispatch funds to look at during this.

H

Process next year, whether or not using those reserves for things like capital, expenditures,.

H

um To to see a reduced rate potentially for a year or something like that would make sense, but.

H

We might be a little bit rushed to get all of that organized and to come up with that figure.

H

During this process for the 2022 budget, so we had thought about doing that as part of next year's.

H

Process for the 2023 um dispatch budget, if that makes sense hey mike, do you know what was the what.

G

Is the amount of money in reserve right now, so when we combined the three pools of reserve funds.

H

And we we have a range because there was some disagreement about the numbers as you as and I'm.

H

Not not disagreement so much as we just need to sit down and work through the precise number, but.

H

The range in the ps uh lit psap funds held by the county, ps, lit psat funds held by the city and then.

H

E911 funds was between 2.5 and 3.1 million dollars is the range we talked about yesterday. So, okay, yes,.

C

Very healthy reserves, yes, and that would also give us time to make sure we figure out work through.

H

The differences we're having in computing those figures as well so yeah and, and let me um and I.

G

I think to jeff's point there and not that everybody shares this perspective, but I think.

G

That there's a perspective out there that feels like we are over funding or in the past few years,.

G

We have over funded dispatch and growing those reserves and so that we need to get the budget.

G

Adjusted so that we're not putting too much in reserve, because to the extent that we do that. That.

G

Means less money for bpd or less money for county sheriff not, and we want to make sure we just get.

G

The numbers right, the budgets- are appropriate and we're not over funding any particular budget.

C

And I'm glad that to hear that that effort is ongoing because it is actually my belief also.

C

That the dispatch center is being overfunded, and by that I would make it very clear. I don't mean.

C

That they are requesting or spending too much money. um What I mean is that I think there are.

C

There is more cash that is being uh put in there that is not being budgeted or spent.

C

So, that's that's not at all on the opera criticism of the operation side. It's entirely a comment.

C

About the financing side, yes, I agree, I think everybody feels like dispatch is running. Well, is.

G

Running smoothly, but that we just might not have the numbers right and we're unwittingly putting.

G

Too much money in reserves precisely very good. Mr sims, thank you um and I appreciate miss tinsley.

E

Again speaking on the 10-year plan for capital outlays, and how to maybe use that, I guess my more.

E

Direct question is um we're talking about healthy reserves so who determines what a healthy reserve.

E

Is is that us, or is that the department of local government finance or who determines that? I think.

G

That's the dispatch policy board yeah, so so just to jump in with what we talked about yesterday.

H

You know we would want to have ms hensley and her staff take a look at what their capital needs may.

H

Be over the next decade, then, maybe to sit down with a working group from the city in the county.

H

To review sort of what she produces and then once we sort of have a document that makes sense to all.

H

Of us, we would bring that to the policy board to say look. This is what we think makes sense as a.

H

10-Year capital plan have the policy board look at it review it potentially revise it as they see fit.

H

And then we would have something to guide this committee when we're talking about what.

H

Reserves, maintaining what level of reserves makes sense for capital expenditures going.

H

Forward the problem is just with this body: has some strict statutory timelines.

H

During by will, they have to modify the rates here and it's just going to be difficult to get all.

H

Of that done before we bump up to those deadlines for the 2022 budget, so you know, I think this makes.

H

Perfect sense to be talking about next year, when we have a bit more time to work through it all.

E

Okay and lastly, if I may um go ahead, it sounds sounds like we have decent reserves, at least so.

E

Far um but moving forward, if, in fact, whatever we determine, is a health reserve level and if.

E

It drops below that would part of this ps lit committee's process, be to contribute funds to.

E

Bring that amount whatever we just decided. It is back up to that level from a funding standpoint, so.

E

I don't know that's long term, but I'm just trying to wrap my head around that. If that made sense.

E

I mean it's hard to answer because we haven't determined what a healthy reserve is at this point.

E

um But I'm thinking in the next 10 years, how you know is that something that happens, I'm similar to.

E

Maybe a rainy day fund, I mean it's not the same, but.

E

But similar to that yeah margie- I don't know if you want to jump in here too, but but I don't know.

H

We'll just have to see what sort of capital expenditures are anticipated. I think.

H

We are, we are thinking or the parties are thinking right now that the current reserves are probably.

H

Adequate, um so the idea would be that we wouldn't need quite as much as we have, but.

H

We don't know that until we until we see what amy produces and then take that to the policy board,.

H

So I don't know yeah and I think mike's mike's um exactly right on the process. You know.

G

Remember that there are two boards, you know we have a director amy and then there's the there.

G

Are two boards that the inner local sets up? One is the police chief and the sheriff um knowing.

G

That the city has the sort of the day-to-day operational duties, but the sheriff and the police.

G

Chief are supposed to work together. On sort of you know, uh they're they alone are a committee and.

G

And then there's the policy board, they look at the budget before it come and and the interlocal says.

G

That that budget has to go to the city, council and the county council, so you know what I think needs.

G

To be done, that hasn't been done in the past is that we prioritize this conversation about.

G

The reserves- because I know we talked about this last year and I think that we just need.

G

To really prioritize getting those numbers right so that next year, if you know if we.

G

Don't have time to do it this year that next year we aren't having this conversation again.

H

Yes, I think that's exactly right too, and I'm sorry just to respond to that point.

H

I think ms hensley, we were talking about trying to have the quote unquote working group.

H

Look at your report sometime in mid-october, once we get through some other significant.

H

um Legislative items we have coming up, you know budget and some other things.

H

So that's correct and if I can jump in there I'm going to ask the question is: if, if the working.

A

Group gets together and, and has a 10-year plan and developed something. Would the working group ask to.

A

Do a presentation or an explanation of the plan to the ps, led committee prior to next year.

H

I mean marge, you can jump in and offer your opinion. I don't see any reason why we couldn't.

H

Do that, oh, I think we should. I think, that's an excellent idea, because if we don't everybody is.

G

So busy the fact of the matter is: if we don't make it a priority and say we're going to do.

G

A report at this certain time we're going to end up you know it's going to nine months, are.

G

Going to pass and then we're going to be like uh oh here, we are again at budget time, so I.

G

Think that's an excellent idea, okay and just to say that not to burst anybody's bubble, but.

H

We would anticipate going to the policy board first um since they're the subject matter.

H

Experts on all things, dispatch related before we would come to this committee yeah. That's that's.

G

Right, we and it could even be a you know they could they could meet and we could invite the.

G

City council and county council to participate. There are a lot of ways we could do it, but.

G

Yes, I think we don't want to wait until next spring to be right.

A

We don't want a surprise right exactly and and again not. I think things are going well.

G

I think we have great leadership. I think it's just a matter of everybody's super busy.

G

Yep, okay, miss uh scandaloury. Would you like to know it's hard to see on a light background.

I

But cheryl's hand was up before mine. Oh I'm! So sorry cheryl go ahead. Ms munson.

C

And she is on mute.

J

I can talk now, but I can't see you can you hear me now? Yes, we can okay.

J

um I actually was going to ask about reversals and I'm glad we had this discussion.

J

I certainly think it would be helpful to um when the council hears the the psl budget to have the.

J

Amount of reversions that we will be discussing next year and figuring out a way to manage these.

J

As a 10-year plan, I think that report needs to come to the to the full county council.

J

Accompanied by the amount of revenue collected so far as reversions.

J

The um otherwise the county council will also feel like this is another groundhog day operation.

J

So I wanted to ask also about overtime, and I can I'm looking at the packet now and I see.

J

um 197 000 proposed for 2022 and in 2021 it was 120 000.

J

So I don't understand why the spreadsheet says: 77 000 increase because it was.

J

Because not all the overtime was is likely to have been used in any case.

J

uh Could ms hensley tell us about how much of the overtime has been used to date in the 2021 budget.

D

I don't have that in front of me right now, but I can see okay so.

J

Okay, that'd be great, I think it's um knowing that we would need additional overtime as.

J

Well as additional staff, and that's what uh that is, what's not making sense to me.

D

Yes and and the temptation I know as because we've we've been able.

D

To to keep our head a little bit above water by doing a minimum of four in the room.

D

And as we get into this, I know the temptation as we're trying to beef up staffing is when people.

D

Call in to say well, we can get by on a minimum of four, but but that doesn't accomplish getting.

D

Us up to the increased staffing levels that the novac recommends. So so as we're increasing.

D

Our minimum staffing even increasing our total staff, we want to get that minimum up.

D

As well and, and so that means that we're going to be uh calling people in on posting over time,.

D

In order to to not fall back to say well, they called in, but we can get by on four.

J

Okay, did that make sense.

J

D

Okay in my running spreadsheet,.

D

In my running spreadsheet, as of may 11th, we had used in overtime, 39 750.. We were at 20 20.1.

D

As of may 11th,.

D

But it it's hard to consider that a a good number because, as of may people haven't started taking.

D

Their vacations and all that you know in the spring people pretty much sit tight. We're.

D

Covering sick time, but we're not covering a lot of vacation time and requested time off at that point,.

J

Okay, thank you you're welcome. Thank you. Miss munson miss scan bellary. Thank you. um Thank.

I

You amy uh going back to the staffing issues. I I'm I kind of geek out on hr stuff, sometimes, but.

I

You talked about losing a lot of people shortly after we hire them, because these bidding wars.

I

um Develop and other former employers come after them with more money and so forth.

I

um What is the average tenure of our dispatch workers? Do you have a sense of that.

D

I can tell you an average. I will tell you that one of our dispatchers has been here 43 years.

D

We have two 40 years. We have won it at uh 31.. We have a couple at 18. We have one at.

D

At 15, and then we have a lot of, we have kind of a big gap. We have. I think one.

D

At nine one at five and then we have kind of a big gap, and then we have several that.

D

That I have hired since I have been here. Okay, that's longer than I thought.

I

Would it be possible, I think we're going to be very interested to see the impact.

I

Of salary on retention um and salary on hiring so.

I

Would it be possible, please do track that next year, um absolutely anecdotally.

I

Certainly, but just beyond that, it would be interesting to know, and if I come in as an.

I

Ordinary person off the street, how long would it take me to get up to speed as a dispatch worker.

D

To get up to speed that depends on how you define up to speed, but our our training program is 12.

D

To 14 weeks long- and um you really don't start getting a comfortable handle on it until about.

D

Six months and then between six months to a year, you're starting to feel more comfortable in it.

D

um But but I've had people that have said. Oh my gosh I've been here seven years and today I had.

D

This for the first time and and so it's a constant learning process and as you know, technology.

D

Changes all the time so they're constantly having to learn new technology and and every.

D

Time there's a change, everybody resists change, and so then people are uncomfortable again for a while.

I

Okay, so it would be interesting to me to know- and I I'm guessing you don't have this now- but.

I

Given that that's how long it takes a new person to get up to speed, I'd be interested where we tend.

I

To lose them um if we lose them right away before we've invested in training. That's one thing: if we.

I

Lose them after we've, gotten them up to speed um that's kind of another matter, so I'd be interested.

I

In any impressions, you have now on that and certainly worth knowing going forward as well. So.

D

I would say it's well spread over the gamut.

D

Since since covet and since you started seeing now hiring signs everywhere, we are losing more before.

D

We can even get them in the door. Some people we do lose, maybe not in the classroom portion.

D

Of the training, but when they start sitting in the room and so we've adjusted our training plan.

D

To where now, every week, we're trying to give them two to four hours in the room, because what happens.

D

Is when you're learning it in a controlled environment? You know it's a very comfortable.

D

Environment, even though you may be hearing it in the training or you may be hearing it on.

D

Some of the recordings that karen plays in the training process when they are in that room and.

D

Hear it live happening to somebody and it's a bad call. We lose a lot of people on the first bad call.

I

This is helpful. Thank you. You're welcome, look forward to learning more.

I

As time goes on, thank you. Miss gambler, mr sims.

E

Thank you. I think this is my final question, but, and maybe I missed it, maybe this was said.

E

But what is our current staff level um with dispatch and whatever we have then.

E

We're asking for three more, um so I guess I'd like to know what is our current staffing level.

D

Do you know I just had to answer that question not too long ago? I'm sorry that was today and I missed.

E

It I apologize; no, it was it wasn't um we have. As of today, we have 29 full-time positions and six.

D

Supervisor positions and two management positions: uh we just lost another supervisor uh for medical.

D

Reasons, and so we are down to three current supervisors and we have 19 telecommunicators.

D

Well, I take that back. That was that was before this higher group that we started july 26th.

D

And we were able to pick up five people on july 26th.

E

We're all those in the telecommunicators, yes,.

D

Okay and we're getting ready, we're getting ready to post to hire two supervisors.

E

Okay, thank you. You're welcome.

A

Thank you, mr sims. uh Any uh other committee member wish to uh question or discuss.

A

Give a shout because I may not be able to see you all on the screen. At the same time,.

A

Are we good all right, mr lucas? Oh so so sorry, cheryl had her hand raised.

A

Oh, I missed it. So sorry, uh miss mata.

J

It's hard to see that raised hand symbol on my background, so I put my hand up. Thank you for this.

J

Additional question I wanted to. I wanted to ask um about why uh longevity, and if this is a factor.

J

um Or retention, do you have a life longevity uh program? I don't see it in the in the budget.

D

um I'm not sure what you mean by a longevity program. Okay, are you saying.

D

Go ahead so uh in county government uh longevity is awarded uh with uh increased years of service.

J

To county government- and I don't know if the city has this uh type of annual bonus.

J

But I think longevity has been helpful in recognizing uh the long time workers and they are.

J

Rewarded for their continuing uh employment with with the county, so do you have any comments on.

J

That we do not have a longevity plan. Okay, does the city have a longevity plan in other departments.

H

I can jump in on that uh ms munson, the uh for individuals who are.

H

Part of our collective bargaining units- sometimes they negotiate longevity plans.

H

For uh dispatchers or other folks who aren't part of a collective bargaining unit, we don't have.

H

Longevity bonuses beyond, of course, you know, as those annual percentage increases start to add up.

H

um Individuals who have been here longer, of course, and have more experience, are making more.

H

Than those who are just new newly joining the city and don't have as much experience so, but we don't.

H

Have any payment beyond sort of that built-in structure for paying paying people who have more.

H

Experience more because they've been around okay. Thank you. That's helpful. Thank you. Miss munson.

A

um If there are no further questions, I'm going to ask mr lucas to help me formulate.

A

Emotion, if, if we are indeed done discussing this section- yes, I I think the in the past.

B

Years, the committee has considered a motion to simply adopt the dispatch budget as presented.

B

The total amount again that they are requesting from the ps lit revenue is two million nine.

B

Hundred and thirteen thousand nine hundred and twenty nine dollars and twenty two cents.

A

Do I have a motion from one of the committee members to that effect so moved in a second second.

A

All right shall uh we go to public comment now, mr lucas, or do we wait till the end.

B

I think going to the public now would would make sense, although I don't see any public uh on the.

B

Meetings, so all right should there be a any person from the public who wishes to make a comment.

A

On our motion and our adoption of these rates, please raise your hand, send a note to.

A

Mr lucas, through chat, and we will recognize you and you can make your comments.

A

So I guess we'll just wait for a minute or 10 seconds, since there's no public on there.

A

All right um would you like to call a roll, or should I.

B

Please go ahead. Mr mckim. Yes, miss munson! Yes, mr sims, yes, miss scandaloury! Yes, miss piedmont, smith,.

G

Yes- and uh this is mr smith, yes, so I believe that's adopted one two, three four five.

A

Six zero. Is that correct? Well, I do not is here. I do believe mr odom has joined us. Yes,.

F

I apologize for that. I was tied up, unfortunately, but I vote yes. Thank you, mr.

A

All right, that means we get with 7-0. So thank you very much.

A

That pass and that will be forwarded to uh the monroe county tax council to the full committee.

A

uh All right uh now it looks like what we do is we have uh the next section.

A

Is uh remaining revenues are distributed via public safety, local income tax certified shares.

A

In 2020 to the four member jurisdictions composed composing, the lit council.

A

And is there, mr lucas, are you going to chat about that or or anybody else in the city.

B

Yes again, we've largely covered it and this year I know this will seem a little redundant given.

B

That uh you just adopted a budget for for the dispatch center. But just as a reminder um that.

B

That amount of money that you just uh approved for dispatch comes out of the total revenue.

B

uh From the ps lit uh the remaining amount which, based on the state's revenue estimate, would.

B

Would be about six million one hundred and eleven thousand seven hundred and fifty.

B

Three that gets distributed via certified shares to the four units of government.

B

Automatically um just to note that this year we, the committee, did not receive any applications.

B

uh From any qualifying service providers for any funding, so in past years you all have reviewed and.

B

In some years awarded funding to qualifying service providers that uh then needs to.

B

Be approved, but this year there were no applications and so the remaining amount of money.

B

uh Will simply flow to the four units of government, so um I do think if the committee.

B

uh Would like to consider a motion to approve this.

B

uh This table- and this is what would be forwarded to the members of the monroe county tax council,.

B

For their consideration and again, this committee makes a recommendation to the tax council.

B

uh In past years, uh the bloomington city council, as a member of the tax council, has.

B

uh Introduced an ordinance for action by the full tax council. Typically in october, there is a a.

K

Window between essentially september 1st and october 31st, where the tax council can adjust.

B

Distributions and rates and have that modification take effect january 1st of the next year. So.

B

um That's that's the background. I'm happy to answer any questions.

B

Again, I think the uh the committee today um can consider a motion to approve this uh table of.

B

Of of rates and forward this to the tax council- and I see at least one question for mr.

A

I was going to say if there are questions uh uh regarding this, this section please raise your.

A

Hand, mr mckinnon, I'm sorry could you put that spreadsheet back up on the screen? Yes, thank you.

C

I just wanted to see how you were okay, so you did adjust the percentages.

C

um No, you did not joe you. You basically used the same percentages as last year.

C

You didn't you attempt to use the property tax footprints for this year, because that.

C

Information is known we should be able to. I I did reach out to our controller's office and.

B

uh At his recommendation, he said use these last year's figures. These are not. These will change.

B

um And uh he wasn't able to provide those, so I did use last year's as an estimate. uh These.

B

uh Boxes here will again change, and this is based on a formula that mr mckim may be.

B

Able to explain uh better than I can, but it's based on um a state formula. That's calculated.

C

Yeah, it's basically property tax footprint, but okay, I just want to make sure we were.

C

All clear that that the 2022 numbers or distribution percentages are just copied.

C

Over from 2021, and that those numbers will actually be calculated based on the.

C

2021 property taxes. Thank you for that clarification. Yes, I meant to mention that.

A

Anyone else uh have a question or comment um regarding this adoption.

A

All right yeah, I will then I guess ask again if, if there's anyone in the public.

A

Who wishes to make a comment? uh Please raise your hand and or send mr lucas.

A

A note to chat- and we will recognize you and you will have time to comment.

A

And anybody else in the public uh clamoring to to make a comment.

A

All right, then, uh I will ask for him, mr mckinnon.

A

Yeah uh thanks, uh mr smith. Actually I I just wanted to clarify what exactly.

C

We're voting on since these numbers are, you know this is basically the law. uh We don't really we're.

C

Not actually making a decision here you uh we have to legally adopt it. Well said: no, you you.

B

May not, this may be a redundant motion. I agree in past years, um there's been uh beyond the dispatch.

B

Budget there's been the the uh amount recommended to go to the qualifying service providers.

B

If you'd like to forego a motion, you're absolutely correct that this, this will happen as.

B

uh As mr mckim stated by operation of law, so um I again this committee in past years has forwarded.

B

I think this spreadsheet to each member of the tax council, um just as a uh a written.

B

uh Record of what your, what you considered and what you were looking at so um I'm happy to.

B

Just do that if the committee would like? Oh what's the committee's preference, anybody have a comment.

A

Mr mckim go ahead. Well, I think mr sims did he have his. I I may have missed you jim, oh no. I did not.

E

Just waving at my wife as she goes on her morning, thank you jeff. If we're not.

A

Then it is just redundant and- uh and I don't I don't see the need to do it uh unless we have some.

A

Statutory requirement or regulatory requirement- okay, this was mostly in keeping with with the.

B

Committee's past practice- and I I agree with mr mckim- it's it's probably redundant- so okay.

A

Well then, that would uh that's great, then, that will get forwarded on um to the full committee.

A

And um any other business or final comments, uh mr lucas, any other thing that we need to think about.

B

Not that I not that I need to bring up, um I believe you all mentioned um wanting to.

B

Not wait until next year's process to hear from the city and the county on dispatch reserves, so I.

B

I doubt the committee is ready to pick a date for that today, so um we can. We can certainly work on.

B

That in the coming months and reach out to you all yeah, can you do? Can you do me a favor and.

A

Put something on your calendar for a few months, hence or some some question to ask.

A

Mr, maybe mr rooker, that are you guys ready or do you want to do it just so we don't.

A

Forget about it and it goes on and then we get a surprise in next year. Yes, absolutely.

G

All right, real quick um can I suggest that we get um if we don't already have them if the.

G

Controller hasn't um given like financials that show the reversions is, if mike, if.

G

You guys already have that. Can you pass those along to us here at the county or.

G

If you don't have them, can we get those within the I mean they should be fairly easy reports to.

G

Generate, can you maybe get them in the next week or two? Is that a mr rooker question? I don't know.

G

Yeah, I guess it's a question yeah and I can respond to that real quick. um So we we have.

L

uh Angie and jeff cockrell have that report as well. They had had some questions about that report.

L

um So we are going to, as I said, that's one of the things we're going to work through in the next.

L

Few weeks, but you should be able to get it from them. I can also do a copy of it as well. Sounds.

G

Great. Thank you very good. Thank you. Miss rice, uh any other comments for for the good of the order.

A

Okay, well, uh I hereby.

A

Say that we're adjourned, and thank you, thank you all very much for the great discussion.

A

And uh thank you uh city staff and mr lucas for your help. Thank you. Thank you very much.

K

K