City Lists $20 Million in Budget Cuts

Facing a $20 million general fund shortfall, the city's financial department unveiled $20 million in proposed cuts today.

A $15.6 million loss in anticipated sales tax returns – traditionally over-relied upon in city budgets – plus slowdown-swollen writedowns of $3 million in development revenue, and $1.5 million in interest revenue created the deficit. To close the difference, budget officers proposed $11.5 million in departmental cuts, and $8.6 million in cuts to corporate costs (city staff positions, salaries, and resources). Reductions were proposed in all departments, except for fire and the municipal court. Police lead with $3.7 million proposed in savings, including a $1 million reduction in overtime costs; the city support service fund, which funds the city bureaucracy, was slated for $2.1 million in cuts, and the city IT department marked for a $1.9 million cut. Other proposals include cutting 9.5 hours a week at each branch library, eliminating the city's south day labor site, and delaying market-based salary adjustments for employees, realizing $2.3 million in savings.

A public meeting on the proposals is scheduled for Feb. 19 at City Hall, with Marc Ott planning to present his final recommendations to the Council Feb. 26.