McQuillan Gets Bristly at Budget Hearing

Bob McQuillan, who on Tuesday lost an election for mayor, came on like a prosecuting attorney at Monday night's city budget hearing, cross-examining the staff and council members over details of an $85 million budget.

McQuillan first asked how the city could call its budget balanced when it showed revenues of $79.6 million and expenditures of $83.7 million.

But city officials said the numbers McQuillan was referring to were incorrect—an early version of the budget presented for about a week on the city's website until it was replaced with a corrected version. Assistant City Administrator Stephanie Dawkins said the corrected document was published on the city's website for about 15 days prior to the public hearing, 

"Who realized there was a mistake?" McQuillan asked, and when no one pointed to a specific employee, he asked why the city hadn't sent out an e-mail blast to say that a corrected document had replaced the first one.

Some of McQuillan's questions were fielded by city Finance Manager Tom Dahl, and the pair did a back and forth at the podium, with McQuillan leading the questioning.

McQuillan: "What level of confidence do you have in this budget?"

Dahl: "One hundred percent."

McQuillan asked how the revenue estimates were put together and why they didn't match expenses from the previous fiscal year. Dahl said revenue for certain funds—such as sewer and water or electricity—are based on seasonal demand and change according to weather conditions, so the revenue numbers have to be a best estimate.

McQuillan: "Then why do you budget?

Dahl: "It’s a planning document."

City Council members later defended the process.

"Indeed, it is a planning document, and (we) adjust the budget at midterm," 1st Ward Alderman Chuck Brown said. "City departments have to understand where they’ve been and where they’re going."

McQuillan asked why overtime pay was about $120,000 higher this year for the city's Police Department. Dawkins and Geneva Police Chief Steve Mexin said the change was due to more-precise accounting practices put in place in concert with the city's New World software, which and is expected to be fully up and running by October.

In the past, overtime expenditure totals included holiday pay and on-call pay as well as overtime, staffers said. In the 2013-14 budget, those costs are separated under their own line items.

Mexin also said a senior employee "was out for the entire year" on disability leave. "To fill that slot required a great deal of overtime that was not anticipated," Mexin said. "We're actually budgeting slightly less than what we spent this year, (but only slightly) because the person is still out."

At the end of the public hearing—which preceded the City Council meeting—5th Ward Alderman Craig Maladra said "a lot of good questions" were asked and answered, both at the meeting by McQuillan and prior to the meeting by aldermen.

"They (city staff) answered the questions the City Council has raised," Maladra said. "We’ve been through it, and been through it, and been through it. So I’ll vote in favor of this budget."

McQuillan asked the City Council members to hold off on voting Monday night.

"I think there’s a lot of questions that have not been brought to the forefront," he said. "The public should be informed there’s been a change. I respectfully ask the City Council not approve this year’s budget."

The City Council voted 8-0 to close the public hearing and accept the budget as proposed.

Discussion continued when the budget came up for a vote on the City Council agenda.

During the public hearing, McQuillan had asked why printing costs appeared to have doubled across the board in the proposed budget—and he noted that his question hadn't been answered.

City Administrator Mary McKittrick said the costs hadn't risen year over year, but the accounting practice had changed. For example, in past budgets, printing might have been placed under various line items, such as "publications" or "office supplies."

"We’re trying to be more precise about where we’re making those expenditures," McKittrick said. "Printing may have gotten allocated to any number of line items. What we’ve been trying to do, we’re trying to re-learn and re-teach all of our department heads to use the specific and appropriate account ... If you look at the total itself, you’re not going to see much change."

McQuillan returned to the podium.

"I’m still Bob McQuillan, 2677 Berkshire Drive," he said. "I take exception to a couple things said tonight."

McQuillan said the city's hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., so there isn't much opportunity for citizens to ask questions.

"I work during the day," he said. "The public hearing is the time and place for the public to ask questions (about) the budget. So I was not out of line."

McQuillan asked about the New World software and the estimated $500,000 spent to implement it.

Mayor Kevin Burns, who defeated McQuillan in Tuesday's mayoral election by about a 60-40 margin, said the computer upgrade was needed and would pay dividends over time.

"I can only equate it as going from an abacus to an Apple," he said. "We had to grow up, we had to mature. In time, efficiencies will be reached."

McQuillan said he didn't disagree that upgrades were needed.

"But you also should have an estimate — a plan — (as to) how much that ($500,000 expenditure) is going to increase efficiency," he said.

Maladra took McQuillan to task, saying the conversation regarding the efficiency of the New World software had taken the discussion off topic.

"We’re talking about the budget tonight," Maladra said. "The expenditure is done. You have strayed from questions of fact (to issues) that have nothing to do with the budget before us."

At times, the back and forth sounded a little like a playground spat.

"You got the last word," Maladra said.

"No, you just did, McQuillan responded.

The City Council voted 8-0 to pass the budget as submitted. Third Ward Alderman Dawn Vogelsberg was absent.

Download the movie