CHEYENNE, Wyo. — On Thursday, May 11, the City Council reviewed proposed 2024 budgets for the Attorney’s Office, Human Resources, Youth Alternatives and the Mayor’s Office.
Attorney’s Office
The City Attorney’s Office provides legal representation to the City Council, the mayor and all departments of the city government. The City Attorney Division’s proposed budget is $764,620, a 7.3% increase from fiscal year 2023. The changes are due to the following:
- An annual salary of $72,800 plus benefits for the hiring of a full-time city assistant attorney.
- The position was previously approved in the fiscal year 2022 budget. However, the funds were used to pay for the prosecutor position hired in fiscal year 2023.
- An annual salary increase of $8,100, plus benefits, for the deputy city attorney.
- An increase of $3,000, plus benefits, for the hiring of two temporary/part-time summer interns.
- A professional services line item increase of $100 as a result of inflationary costs for bottled water services.
- A reduction of attorney fees by $79,000 as a result of hiring a new full-time prosecutor instead of contracting those services.
- A reduction of copier expenses by $1,780 as a result of the city purchasing the division’s copier ma- chine rather than leasing a new one.
- An increase in the office supplies line item by $2,500 due to the rising costs for copy paper.
Human Resources
The Human Resources division develops, implements and monitors personnel policies and practices for the city, including assistance with dispute resolution and mediation, recruiting and retaining employees, and monitoring the city’s performance evaluation system. Their proposed budget is $653,764, a 4.8% decrease from fiscal year 2023. The changes are due to the following:
- An annual salary increase of $5,000, plus benefits, for the office manager as a result of the HR three-year strategic development plan.
- A promotion of the HR receiving specialist to HR benefit specialist with an annual salary increase of $1,285 plus benefits.
- A $17,550 increase, plus benefits, to the temporary/part-time budget for a $1 per hour pay increase for part-time staff, and an additional 17.5 hours of front lobby/reception desk coverage.
- An increase in dues and subscriptions costs by $9,000 for Employers Council membership dues which were previously paid from the professional services line item.
- A significant decrease in the professional services line item by $103,570, which is attributed to a decrease in costs associated with the fiscal year 2023 one-time Employers Council Compensation Study, moving the costs for the City’s Novo Benefits consultant contract to the self-insurance fund, and to allocate funds used to the dues and subscriptions line item for Employers Council member- ship dues.
Youth Alternatives
Youth Alternatives is a family-centered program designed to respond to the needs of youth, which the city defines as those ages 5–18, and their families. The program’s proposed budget is $622,441, a 33.2% increase from fiscal year 2023. The changes are due to the following:
- An increase in the dues and subscriptions line item by $1,000 to cover expenses for the Wyoming Youth Services Membership and various newspaper and magazine subscriptions.
- An increase in telecommunications expenses by $539, and light, fuel and power expenses by $1,800 to reflect actual costs more accurately based on previous fiscal years’ expenses.
- A slight increase in computer software/maintenance expenses by $400 as a result of an inflation in costs.
- An increase in the copier expenses line item by $100 to reflect actual costs more accurately for copier lease and copy charges.
- A significant increase in capital improvement expenses by $150,000 to pay for construction costs for the repair of the Youth Alternatives building deck and retaining wall.
Mayor’s Office
The Mayor’s Office is responsible for the overall direction and management of city operations. The division’s proposed budget is $631,874, a 18.5% increase from fiscal year 2023. The changes are due to the following:
- A decrease in the dues and subscriptions line item by $400 to reflect actual costs more accurately.
- An increase in professional services expenses by $250 as a result of an inflationary increase for bottled water services.
- A significant decrease in public defender expenses by $20,400 as the result of hiring a full-time city public defender during fiscal year 2023 as opposed to contracting out for services.
- An increase in the memorials and trophies line item by 1,000 as a result of inflation of costs for employee service awards.
- An increase in the youth activities line item by $900 to cover expenses pertaining to the purchase of supplies for the Mayor’s Youth Council capstone projects.
- A decrease in the general contingency line item by $2,500. This account was previously used to pay expenses pertaining to the annual city employee barbeque and holiday luncheon, but these expenses will now be paid out of the Human Resources Division budget.
