City's high health costs lowering cash reserves

[jean]

City's high health costs lowering cash reserves



By Boris Ladwig Daily News



In 2014, employee benefit costs rose another $730,000, or 42 percent. And city spending in 2014 exceeded revenues by nearly $545,000.



When city spending exceeds revenues, it’s akin to a family that spends more than it earns. The city has a cash balance to cover any shortfalls, but those reserves, too, have been declining. At the end of 2012, the city had more than $1 million remaining in its reserves. By the end of 2014, the balance had declined below $380,000.





www.greensburgdailynews.com/news/local_news/city-s-high-health-costs-lowering-cash-reserves/article_5eff89c3-e979-5bc0-85d3-30d3f037e5bd.html

[jean]

Council approves budget increase

The city’s reserves have shrunk from more than $1 million in 2012 to below $380,00 at the end of last year.

Other raises

General Fund expenditures for the mayor’s salary would go from $29,300 to $29,900, up $600 or 2 percent. Herbert gets the same salary again from the water department, which means he would get a raise of $1,200 for a total salary of $59,900.

General Fund expenditures for the salary of City Engineer Ron May would go from $30,034 to $30,434 up $400 or 1.3 percent. May gets the same salary again from the water department and wastewater department each, which means he would get a raise of $1,200 for a total salary of $91,302.

Council members and Greensburg Clerk-Treasurer Bridgett Weber also would see small salary increases.



www.greensburgdailynews.com/news/local_news/council-approves-budget-increase/article_10a347a2-5698-525e-bf3c-cdd6a28af7f7.html