Anticipating virtually flat or reduced revenues (property taxes/fees/etc.)--the Financial Advisory Committee will recommend another lean budget to the Council Monday night: the majority of the needs Department Heads expressed during interviews (and to the Strategic Planning Committee)-- will have to be deferred until future years when the revenue situation is expected to improve (roof repairs to the Senior Center, emergency power for sewage lift stations, computer server replacement, road paving, vehicle replacement, et al). No pay raises are included in the recommendation-- but 3 new hires are.
The city's recently enacted sales tax (some $300,000/month into city coffers, beginning this past July) is dedicated by law to rebuilding the depleted reserve (emergency) fund-- and reducing transfers from utilities.
Committee Member Stan Grubin: "Some people feel . . . we're doing well now . . . with the sales tax . . . maybe we need to rescind it . . . they need to know . . . we still have a lot of chores that need to be done . . . in the Strategic Plan . . . especially in utilities . . . need to chew on it as year goes on . . . integrate into next year's budget . . . want to underscore . . . city still has a big load yet . . . lot of things to do . . . for future years . . . those who think evverything's buttoned up . . . in good shape . . . thats not so . . . a lot of pent up work needs to be done yet . . ."
Chairman Zunk: "That's an excellent point . . . maintenance being deferred . . . some Depts. favored this year over others . . . next year shoe's on the other foot . . . other needed items not mentioned . . . Mayor's plan to pave roads . . . lots of things ahead of us . . . this budget's the way it is because of the sales tax . . . have to cut out $1.9 million . . . lay off employees . . . if rescinded."
Member Mixon: "This year we're just sneaking through . . . next (year) we'll be able to take larger steps."
Chairman Zunk also revealed the Council may pass a Resolution at Monday's meeting asking the Committee to review the $325K proposed for "Community Development" on a case by case basis (everything from donations to the Rotary Youth Club, Boys and Girls Club, Young St. Sidewalk, Veteran's Groups, Chamber of Commerce, Baykeeper, Downtown Business Assn., separate school system study, et al) from a long-term financial planning viewpoint only; and make recommendations to the Council (yea or nay).
Zunk: "We won't be making political judgements."
The City's donations to private outside organizations (with falling city revenues/tight budgets)-- recently became an issue with a flood of new requests during the recession (Veteran's Honor Flight, Rotary Youth Club, Young St. sidewalk, Chamber of Commerce, separate school system study, et al.). Some officials have commented in private that the public politicial arm twisting is hard to resist--and sought o find a better way to allocate limitied public money.
[Publisher's Note: The Financial Advisory Committee is comprised of civilian volunteers (active/retired financial advisors, CPA's, etc); but elected officials are considered members as well (ex officio).]
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Anticipating virtually flat or reduced revenues (property taxes/fees/etc.)--the Financial Advisory Committee will recommend another lean budget to the Council Monday night: the majority of the needs Department Heads expressed during interviews (and to the Strategic Planning Committee)-- will have to be deferred until future years when the revenue situation is expected to improve (roof repairs to the Senior Center, emergency power for sewage lift stations, computer server replacement, road paving, vehicle replacement, et al). No pay raises are included in the recommendation-- but 3 new hires are.
The city's recently enacted sales tax (some $300,000/month into city coffers, beginning this past July) is dedicated by law to rebuilding the depleted reserve (emergency) fund-- and reducing transfers from utilities.
Committee Member Stan Grubin: "Some people feel . . . we're doing well now . . . with the sales tax . . . maybe we need to rescind it . . . they need to know . . . we still have a lot of chores that need to be done . . . in the Strategic Plan . . . especially in utilities . . . need to chew on it as year goes on . . . integrate into next year's budget . . . want to underscore . . . city still has a big load yet . . . lot of things to do . . . for future years . . . those who think evverything's buttoned up . . . in good shape . . . thats not so . . . a lot of pent up work needs to be done yet . . ."
Chairman Zunk: "That's an excellent point . . . maintenance being deferred . . . some Depts. favored this year over others . . . next year shoe's on the other foot . . . other needed items not mentioned . . . Mayor's plan to pave roads . . . lots of things ahead of us . . . this budget's the way it is because of the sales tax . . . have to cut out $1.9 million . . . lay off employees . . . if rescinded."
Member Mixon: "This year we're just sneaking through . . . next (year) we'll be able to take larger steps."
Chairman Zunk also revealed the Council may pass a Resolution at Monday's meeting asking the Committee to review the $325K proposed for "Community Development" on a case by case basis (everything from donations to the Rotary Youth Club, Boys and Girls Club, Young St. Sidewalk, Veteran's Groups, Chamber of Commerce, Baykeeper, Downtown Business Assn., separate school system study, et al) from a long-term financial planning viewpoint only; and make recommendations to the Council (yea or nay).
Zunk: "We won't be making political judgements."
The City's donations to private outside organizations (with falling city revenues/tight budgets)-- recently became an issue with a flood of new requests during the recession (Veteran's Honor Flight, Rotary Youth Club, Young St. sidewalk, Chamber of Commerce, separate school system study, et al.). Some officials have commented in private that the public politicial arm twisting is hard to resist--and sought o find a better way to allocate limitied public money.
[Publisher's Note: The Financial Advisory Committee is comprised of civilian volunteers (active/retired financial advisors, CPA's, etc); but elected officials are considered members as well (ex officio).]
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