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.
This article appears in February 6 • 2009.