Fiscal Note
The Resolution proposes an appropriation from the City Contingent Reserve. The current available balance of the Contingent Reserve is $667,195.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Appropriating $27,500 from the City Contingent Reserve and Aamending the 2008 Adopted Operating Budgets of the PCED Community Development Division and the City Clerk's Office to transfer provide $27,500 in unspent salary and benefits expense in order to fund the position of Clerk's Office Coordinator as of July 1, 2008.
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Appropriating $27,500 from the City Contingent Reserve and Aamending the 2008 Adopted Operating Budgets of the PCED Community Development Division and the City Clerk's Office to transfer provide $27,500 in unspent salary and benefits expense in order to fund the position of Clerk's Office Coordinator as of July 1, 2008.
WHEREAS, the administration of our elections changed considerably with the implementation of the federal Help America Vote Act; and
WHEREAS, the federally required Statewide Voter Registration System has placed additional administrative demands on the City Clerk; and
WHEREAS, the Clerk's Office has made polling place accessibility a top priority; and
WHEREAS, the City of Madison anticipates a voter turnout greater than 80 percent for the November 4, 2008, Presidential Election; and
WHEREAS, the Clerk's Office will extend its hours this fall to accommodate up to 30,000 absentee voters; and
WHEREAS, the City Clerk will train up to 1,800 Election Officials the week before the Presidential Election; and
WHEREAS, hiring a Clerk's Office Coordinator would greatly improve continuity of operations in the City Clerks Office and help ensure an efficient election experience for Madison voters; and
WHEREAS, the Clerk's Office Coordinator position is responsible for processing lobbyist registrations, the number of which has nearly doubled since 2001; and
WHEREAS, additional oversight will be needed as the Clerk's Office assumes responsibility for all Dane County Health licensing this spring; and
WHEREAS, hiring a Clerk's Office Coordinator would significantly reduce the turn-around time for research requested by the public and other city agencies; and
WHEREAS, the Clerk's Office Coordinator position has been a critical position in the Clerk's Office but has been left vacant since April 2006 due to fiscal constraints; and
WHEREAS, a delay in the hiring of a Community Development Director has resulted in savings of approximately $27,500, which would offset the cost of a Clerk's Office Coordinator for half a year;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that: the Common Council authorize the filling of a currently vacant Clerk's Office Coordinator position (Compensation Group 18, Range 06) in the Office of the City Clerk effective July 1, 2008; and
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED that the 2008 Adopted Operating Budgets of the City Clerk and the PCED Community Development Division (CDD) be amended (as below) to effectively transfer provide $27,500 from salary and benefit expense savings from CDD to the Clerk's Office, as follows: via an appropriation from the City Contingent Reserve.
GN01-51100-272000 (CDD salary) ($20,000)
GN01-52000-272000 (CDD benefits) ($ 7,500)
GN01-52000-452000 (Clerk benefits) $ 7,500