John - expenses for Gladstone administration was about $775,000 of a total $7.4 million cost for 2004-05. Even though administration manages most public works construction projects including those done by urban renewal, we have very few inter-fund transfers to help maintain relatively simple budget and accounting procedures. The budget for administration includes funding for two management employees, one clerk, one coordinator and a contract for land use planning staff. The budget advises that except for land use planning and recreation, most all expenses for administration could be allocated to other departments as overhead such as personnel recruitment, financial accounting, insurance, etc. In other words, the budget for administration includes recreation, land use planning, HR, finance, city attorney, City Council and advisory board support, and excludes municipal court, police, fire, parks, senior center, library, water, sewer and streets. I hope this helps. - Ron

-----Original Message-----
From: "John Hitt" <jhitt@ci.lebanon.or.us>
To: "Oregon City/County Management Association" <occma@list.orcities.org>
Date: Mon, 26 Jun 2006 09:02:21 -0700
Subject: [occma] Administrative Costs in Budget

The first question of the week, aimed at cities of 10K to 25 K population, is: Approximately what percentage of your General Fund budget, and/or total City budget, does your Administrative function represent? And, roughly speaking, what does the Administrative function entail? That is, does it include HR, City Attorney? Direct City Council costs, etc.? Or is it more limited to the City Manager office alone and his/her direct support?

This question is triggered by the oft repeated charge, by one of our councilors, that Lebanon’s “administrative costs are too high.” Now, I know he figures the city should be saving at least my salary, but I wasn’t sure if otherwise we are roughly “on target” with these costs?

John Hitt

City of Lebanon

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