HAMLETCITY COUNCIL BUDGETWORKSESSION COUNCIL CHAMBERS ROOM 201 MAINSTREET, HAMLET, NC: 28345 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY2 27, 2024 5:30 PM MINUTES  Governing Body Present: Mayor Council Member Council Member Counci/Member Staff Present: City Manager Finance Director  Amy Guinn Eddie Martin Oscar Sellers Abbie Covington Matthew Christian Ednal Miles  Others Present: Mackenzie Webb 1, Call to Order  Mayor Guinn called the meeting to orderat 5:30 pm.  2. Adoption of the Agenda motion passed unanimously. 3. Work Session a. FY24 Review  Council Member Sellers motioned, seconded by Council Member Covington to adopt the agenda. The  City ManagerChristian gavea a briefreview oft the previous budget including the FY24requests that were alli fulfilled, withi the exceptionofa completionofas storage building at the Public' Works Department. He statedi that the cityi invested ini its staff, tools, andi facilities to get thej job done. Investing in staffand paying at fair market rate has strengthened retention and recruitment. Other investments from the previousyearinclude an increasei in amenities: and building renovations. The city has also sustained and  improved the level ofs services offered. b. Financial Overview  City Manager Christian gave af financial overview' including a snapshot of the current year, an overview oft thet fund balance, and outlooks on general fundrevenue, enterpnsefundrevenuevenue,grantprojects; and the. ARP fund. The current year snapshot showed that' YTD (year-to-date), generalfundr revenue is at $4,123,140 and the general fund expense is at $4,832,815, leaving at $709,675 difference. The YTD enterprise fundi is at $2,003,389 with the enterprise fund expenses at $2,407,781, leaving a $404,392 difference. However, this is merely a snapshot: to use and revisit throughout the rest of the fiscal year. City ManagerChristian also made ani important note that Richmond County would not be giving the city the "$240,000 that had been given in previous years, due to an ongoing lawsuit with InternationalTie  Disposal.    City Manager Christian showed that the biggestsource of general: fund revenues comes from property taxes (42%). Sales taxes represent approximately 26% and Fire Protection makes up 8% oft the general fund revenues. The majority oft the enterprise fund comes from water sales ($1,785,000) with sewer charges being second ($985,000). Watera and sewerr rates have noti increased int the past 4-5years, but costs have increased dramatically, and the enterprise fund is operatingi inac deficit. There are several grant projects available and ongoing including a' Water Plant Rehab project with $10,364,00, al Wastewater SCIF with $5,000,000, the ARP Fund with $2,016,717, the City! Lake RTG with $400,00, the Stormwater AIA with $400,000, the Main St. Master Plan with $78,000, the Memorial Park (SCIF) with $125,000, and the Downtown Streetscape (SCIF) with $125,000. The desire is to allocate City Manager Christian discussed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARP) Fund with at total budget of $2,016,717 with $545,161 still unallocated. These unallocated funds must be directed by December 31, 2024. His recommendation tot the City Council is toi immediately fund capital requests and reimburse other eligible general expenditures before June 30, 2024. City Manager Christian also went over where thei funds have currently been allocated or spent. These funds included for Phones and software improvements, personnel expenses, af fire truck, bulldozerrepairs, city lake trail design, watermeter  most of these funds by the end of the year.  survey, acquisition of Lakeside Venue, and supplies and equipment.  - FY25Goals & Objectives  City Manager Christian discussed the FY25 goals and objectives, including the completion of grant projects continuing staffing efforts through recruitment and retention, improvement of water, sewer, and debris removal services and improvements toi the downtown streetscape. Council Member Covington agreed thati it would bei important in the next year to complete the projects the city has started, including grants, the streetscape project, andi mporngaistomerserviss: She stated that al lot of positives have come out oft these efforts, and: she would like to: see it continue. She expressed that staffing recruitment and retention has put the city'sa administration in as solid position. CouncilMember Sellers expresses his desire to see improvements and use of the fairgrounds as iti isi in a prominent position coming into the city. City Manager Christian agreed stating that the goal of improving the downtown streetscape could be amendedi toi include a range of city facilities and amenities. Council MemberMartin expressed that his main goal was the improvement and utilization of Hamlet Memorial Park. Mayor Guinn also agreed that the work on current projects should be continued and completed  especially progress surrounding the city lake. d. FY25 Department Requests  City Manager Christian went through the FY2 25 department requests, noting that overall department headsunderstandourfinancial challengesand. submitted very conservativel budgetrequests. ITservices are a request for all departments due to an increase need for services for an organization of our size. Admnatntonguastadolise: furniture andi funding to create a Unified Development Ordinance. The Museumrequested an Opera House marquee, park stage, locomotive painting and building maintenance. Building department requested at truck and repairs to the lakeside venue. The Police Depatmemtrgue2SUV, body cameras, 2PTE, differential paya and repairs to the shooting range. The Fire Department requested ai truck and building maintenance. The Public' Works department requested! knuckleboomtrucks. The Senior Centerrequested a passenger van, chairs, and aF PA system.    Thel Utilities epatmentrequetadatua, as storage building, and water meters. Afullaccounting of all  department requests was provided att the meeting. e. FY24 Year-End Projects  City Manager Christian gave arecommendation of what projects should be funded immediately using ARPfunds. These includedi Memorial Field annualtuffmaintenance, officet furniture, Main St. Park stage, locomotive painting, Depot roof renovation, Lakeside venue renovations, police vehicles, police computers, police firingr range berm renovation, and al knuckleboom truck, totaling $554,680. In some cases,SCIFfunds may be used to fund select projects. City Council supported the recommendations by consent. The City Managerw will present af fomalbudgetamendiment on the consent agenda att the  upcoming regular meeting. 4. Motion to Adjourn motion passed unanimously.  Council Member Sellers motioned, seconded by Council Member Covington to adjourn at 7:00pm. The  11 OF. HAMLN OFICIAL SEAL H