COVID-19 Incremental Costs ($53,000) Deficit
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic there was restrictions that were placed upon the Parks department. There was a requirement to close playgrounds for health reasons to prevent the spread of the virus to visitors to parkland. Signage was required to highlight to the public that the playgrounds were closed and materials were used to restrict the access to these park amenities. In addition there were social distancing requirement that were adopted by Parks to be applied by staff which placed restrictions upon the number of people allowed in vehicles. As the Parks remained open during the pandemic the maintenance of expected levels of service was challenging and required the commencement of the student lottery program which was temporarily suspended at the beginning of the pandemic. Additional seasonal vehicles were required to be requested from the Fleet division to accommodate the restrictions of the number of staff that were assigned to vehicles. These costs are estimated to be $115,000 for Parks department and the offsetting revenues are allocated to the Fleet Division in the Public Works department for net impact of zero to the organization. The incremental costs for the pandemic, not including the seasonal vehicle, is estimated to be ($53,000).
Holiday Lighting Program
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, there is a projected surplus of $195,000 within this program.
Facilities Division
Facilities is estimating a surplus of $459,000 as at December 31, 2020.
Maintenance Material & Housekeeping Supplies ($454,000) Deficit
Facilities is projecting a deficit of approximately ($454,000) in Maintenance Parts & Materials and Housekeeping supplies. Of the total deficit, ($856,000) is for COVID related expenses, including the purchases for COVID-19 PPE’s and cleaning supplies for the entire corporation. Without the COVID impact, Facility Operations would be reporting a surplus in this category.
Contracted Services $448,000 Surplus
Facilities is projecting a surplus of approximately $448,000 in Contracted Services, net of the COVID related deficit of ($106,000). In 2020, the needs for contracted facility maintenance and repair work have decreased overall due to the closure or reduced services at various facilities as the result of the pandemic. The savings from the reduced contracted maintenance work is offset by the increased in the contracted security service costs. The 3rd party security company provides COVID related screening service at a number of facility locations to ensure the safety of the patrons in the building.
Salary Gapping $255,000 Surplus
Facility Division has a number of vacant positions due to retirement, reassignment, or open position that have not been filled in the year. Facilities is estimating a surplus of $255,000 at the end of 2020, net of the COVID negative impact of ($246,000.) The COVID negative impact is caused by the additional hours of enhanced cleaning performed by the redeployed Temporary Part Time employees from Recreation Divisions over and above the budgeted amount, as well as the projection of 35 temporary caretakers to carry out facility enhanced cleaning in November and December.
Cost Recovery $210,000 Surplus
Facility Division is projecting an overall surplus of approximately $210,000 for department cost recoveries. The main cause for the surplus variance is due to recovery revenue projected for the COVID Enhanced Cleaning services carried out at Windsor Justice Facility and the Major FA Tilston VC Armoury. This projected COVID enhanced cleaning revenue of approximately $332,000 was not budgeted and it is offsetting the negative variance of approximately ($122,000) from the reduced revenue received from Windsor Public Library for the supervisory recovery due to library branch closures and decreased maintenance work orders.