TITLE
SAN JOAQUIN COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS ANNUAL FINANCIAL PLAN FOR FISCAL YEAR 2015-16
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that by motion action the City Council ratify the San Joaquin Council of Government Annual Financial Plan for Fiscal Year 2015-16.
BODY
DISCUSSION
Background
The San Joaquin Council of Governments (SJCOG) Joint Powers Agreement requires that a majority of the member governments ratify the budget each year. The SJCOG unanimously adopted the Annual Financial Plan for Fiscal Year (FY) 2015-16 on March 26, 2015.
Present Situation
Attached is the request for ratification from SJCOG staff, which includes a summary of the SJCOG Annual Plan implementing the FY 2015-16 Overall Work Program (Attachment A). The Annual Financial Plan included in Attachment A provides an outline of expenditures by cost category and line item comparing the proposed FY 2015-16 budget with the current year (FY 2014-15) adopted budget, as most recently amended, and the actual expenditures for FY 2013-14. The SJCOG FY2015-16 Annual Financial Plan includes a 4.2% or $377,828 decrease in revenues and expenditures. The decrease in revenues is due to a reduction in one-time federal planning funds and a reduction in state funding with the complete spend down of the Freeway Service Patrol funds carried over from previous years. On a more positive note, local revenues are nearly $250,321 higher due to sales tax-based funding that continues to grow. The decrease in overall revenues is being addressed in expenditures by with a modest decrease to services and supplies as well as a more significant decrease in professional services to reflect the level of anticipated consulting work in the SJCOG FY 2015-16 Overall Work Program. The FY 2015-16 Financial Plan includes a modest increase in salaries and benefits to reflect merit-based salary adjustment and anticipates completion of a Compensation and Classification study. Additional details are included in Attachment A.
The FY 2015-16 Overall Work Program includes ongoing programs and services such as Commute Connection, Freeway Service Patrol, RTP Continuing Implementation, Transit Planning and Transportation Development Administration and Implementation of the Measure K/R Programs and the One Voice Program. New programs or projects documented in the FY 2015-16 Overall Work Program include the following:
• Update of the Congestion Management Program
• Publications of census and research information, in collaboration with the University of the Pacific, for the “Regional Analyst/Regional Spotlight”
• Update of the Public Participation Plan
• Commuter Travel Study
• Route 99/120 Project Study Report/Project Report (PSR/PR)
• Highway 99 Project Initiation Document (PID)
• Update of the Regional Transit Systems Plan
• Updated Transit Memorandums of Understandings (MOUs) with transit operators in San Joaquin County, defining roles and responsibilities
• 2016 Regional Transportation Improvement Program (RTIP) which programs State Transportation Improvement Program funds
• Updated Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan
FINANCIAL SUMMARY
The operations and projects of the SJCOG are funded through local sales tax, state and federal grants, special assessments and fees. The City of Stockton may participate in funding specific infrastructure projects in cooperation with the San Joaquin Council of Governments. However, there are no General Fund or unrestricted funds that are appropriated directly for SJCOG operations.
Attachment A - SJCOG Correspondence and FY 2015-16 Annual Financial Plan Summary