Candidates seek city manager
Both candidates for Butler mayor support hiring — or are willing to consider hiring — a city manager.
Democratic candidate Jamie Lee Goehring raised the issue of possibly hiring a city manager twice during a candidates' debate earlier this week.
Responding to a question about parking, Goehring said the money the city recently spent on hiring a parking manager would have been spent more wisely on hiring a city manager.
During a discussion about city finances she said strategic planning is needed to secure sources of revenue and a city manager could help make those plans.
“Hiring a city manager to help should be discussed,” Goehring said.
If a city manager was hired, he or she might be tasked with finding ways to improve the city bond rating.
S & P Global Ratings recently lowered the rating on the 2015A and 2015B general obligation bonds by two levels from BBB, which signifies medium grade investment bonds, to BB+, which signifies noninvestment grade junk bonds, because the city guaranteed a $2 million loan for the Butler Redevelopment Authority, which used the money for the Marriott Springhill Suites in the Centre City project.
Construction started in 2015 and was supposed to be finished in August, but completion has been delayed until November.
The authority has been making payments on the interest, but is waiting for a state grant to pay off the rest of the loan. However, the state won't release the grant until the hotel is complete.
Another job a city manager might undertake is finding a way to repair or replace the fire department ladder truck, which has been out of service since it was damaged at a house fire in March, and a way to buy new police vehicles, which officials said are needed.
A manager's workload might also include budget preparation and watching over spending. Council raised the real estate tax rate to 43.25 mills, a 0.75 mill increase over 2016.Republican candidate Benjamin Smith didn't mention a city manager during the debate, but said Wednesday that support for hiring one has been part of his campaign since early spring.“I think if the position is structured the right way and the right person with the right experience is in the job, it could grow the city at an exponential rate,” Smith said.A city manager could look for small spending cuts and help the city develop short- and long-term strategic plans so the city can be proactive, instead of reactive when problems arise, he said.In addition, a manager would have to be able to work with residents and city officials, he said.City managers come at a cost.According to the International City/County Management Association, which represents 11,000 municipal administrators, assistant administrators and department heads, the median annual salary of chief administrative officers in cities with populations of 10,000 to 24,999 was $132,100 in 2016, based on a salary survey report.From Pennsylvania, 16 administrators in cities with the same population range responded to the survey. According to the report, the mean salary was $122,789 and median salary was $115,714. The minimum salary reported was $92,500 and the maximum was $169,750.
