Sound decisions keep Boulder City costs down

Boulder City residents occasionally ask how the city is able to have one of the lowest property tax rates in the state, and still provide needed functions such as police, fire, and public parks. In addition to land leases that provide 35% of our general fund budget, we also look at ways to keep costs down. As the city’s Purchasing, Grants and Risk manager for the last eight years, I have seen the city make decisions that keep us lean.

SMART PURCHASING POLICIES

City staff take our fiscal responsibility to the city council and our citizens very seriously. Purchasing in the city has been done in a centralized manner for about eight years . We developed a purchasing policy within the city that has parameters before we can purchase anything. We also have multiple levels of review before a contract or purchase order is approved. We’ve embedded those processes into our system.

The city uses the Nevada Government E-Marketplace, or NGEM. This online bidding system is where vendors can sign up for free and click the types of things they want to get notified about. When we want to get quotes and bids for goods and services, projects, construction, and more, we can post that to NGEM, and it automatically gets distributed to up to thousands of vendors.

Sometimes, when buying in bulk, a shopper can find better discounts. The same can be true with other governments’ work or purchases. Boulder City has the ability in the state of Nevada to join other government contracts. For example, if the city of Las Vegas did a large bid for pool chemicals, we can join that contract saving important tax dollars. You know they’ve already been solicited, you’re already getting the best price and it makes things more efficient.

ENSURING BETTER OUTCOMES THROUGH RISK MANAGEMENT

Liability, property, and workers compensation insurance costs have risen by double-digits over the past five years. Much of this is due to rising cost of materials, labor and disasters. Recently, the city was able to secure a lower insurance rate for this fiscal year by taking proactive steps in keeping costs down. Rather than an increase like many saw this year, our rate was $3,000 less than the year before.

The city is insured through Nevada’s POOL/PACT: cooperative group that provides property-casualty and workers’ compensation coverage, risk management, and human resources consulting for local public agencies in Nevada.

■ POOL: Nevada Public Agency Insurance Pool was created in 1987 to handle property, liability, cyber risk, and environmental coverage for public entities.

■ PACT: Public Agency Compensation Trust started in 1996 to manage workers’ compensation coverage and nurse triage programs for on-the-job injuries.

Boulder City was a charter member from the very beginning, starting in 1987. Throughout the state, there are 144 different governmental agencies, school districts, fire districts, judicial districts, and municipalities that together form POOL/PACT. It is owned, controlled, and operated by the participating public members themselves.

With Boulder City’s membership, the city is able to obtain specialty health programs for our first responders for free. Employees can receive online safety training and human resources training. We can use POOL/PACT’s claims functions, which helps us file claims and get money back when our property is damaged. They also provide guidance for workers comp cases, injury cases or lawsuits that might affect the city.

NOT TAKEN FOR GRANT-ED

Boulder City has been such an exemplary model, that today, I serve as chair on the statewide PACT Executive Committee. Two years ago, the city won the Risk Management Excellence Award from POOL/PACT. POOL/PACT examined roughly 200 nationwide best practices when it comes to safety insurance and how we operate as a whole within the city. We are one of only five of the 144 agencies in the state of Nevada to receive this great recognition!

POOL/PACT also offer members great grant programs. Members can apply for grants for anything that reduces risk within their cities. Boulder City has received four grants over the last five years. The city is fortunate to have strong regional and state partners to keep the city safe and covered.

I am pleased to report that the city, through smart purchasing polices, grant awards and strong partnerships is able to deliver to our citizens strong municipal services in a cost-effective manner.