City commissioners heard a number of recommendations for how to balance the general fund of the city’s budget for the 2010 fiscal year during Wednesday morning’s study session.
With sales tax revenues for 2010 projected to be 5 percent less than in 2008, commissioners have a difficult job deciding how to eliminate the resulting $2.2 million deficit.
City manager Matt Zimmerman presented commissioners with a list of options for balancing the budget, the largest proposed cut coming from the elimination of all capital improvement projects not included in the multi-year fund, amounting to almost $1.3 million. Other sizable cuts include eliminating all current vacant positions for the rest of 2009, for a cash carryover of $250,000, and vacant positions for 2010, a $448,000 reduction.
Included in the proposal were cutting the city’s $7,500 in funding for the municipal band, eliminating the $6,500 taxi subsidy, cutting services for the Fourth of July fireworks in the amount of $7,500 and cutting an intern position for $9,096. To view the second draft of the city’s general fund budget including the proposed cuts, go to www.emporia.ws
Zimmerman also proposed adding a line item in the budget that assumes a 2 percent vacancy rate for city positions for the year, amounting to $234,616. Looking at staff vacancies in past years, Zimmerman said it would be safe to assume a number of staff positions would be vacant throughout the year.
In all, Zimmerman’s proposed cuts would bring the deficit to about $13,000.
“... At this point, you are looking at a $2,237,000 deficit,” Zimmerman said. “Now we’re in no way advocating that that be the deficit, that’s simply the process that we go through so that everybody can see what all of our options are.”
Also included in the recommendations were restoring positions that have been vacant. Commissioners discussed hiring a new deputy police chief and a city planner.
The city commission will hold a public hearing regarding the city’s 2010 budget at 7 p.m. Thursday night at Timmerman Elementary, 2901 Timmerman Dr. , to hear the opinions of members of the community.
slimbolen99 (anonymous) says...
Eliminate unnecessary excessives. Not employees, not maintenance. Unnecessary excessives. That means, eliminate depreciating assets; ie, vehicles, mowers.
July 29, 2009 at 8:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
my_2cents_worth (anonymous) says...
Why is it that when they do budget cuts it's always something that all the people of Emporia can enjoy? But yet when it comes to projects that the city wants Emporians are usually against them and feel like that is money wasted?
July 29, 2009 at 9:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
concernedcitizen (anonymous) says...
I agree that it is always the things that Emporians want to enjoy that they cut. Who is watching the wasted money that departments are spending like the quarter million just spent to buy a storage building by the police department. (The old Robinsons Mowing location) Why do they need a storage building? It seems there is little accountability for how taxpayer money is used.
July 29, 2009 at 10:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
admireed (anonymous) says...
2cents...examples of cuts to thing all of us enjoy. Can not follow.
July 29, 2009 at 10:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
I too am having trouble following things that cut that we all enjoy.. I'd like to see a list.
July 29, 2009 at 11:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
I'd also like to hear the story of the police department having another building. The commission mtg I sat in I thought it was public works and the police were going to use the outside lot for vehicle storage instead of having to pay local tow companies. Inquiring minds want to know.
July 29, 2009 at 11:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
justthefacts (anonymous) says...
I also recall the bldg cost $120k not a quarter million
July 29, 2009 at 11:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I believe the things we all enjoy was a reference to the 4th of July fireworks display......which according to Gazette coverage and my personal observation was enjoyed by lot...if not all.....of the people.
The reference was probably also aimed at cutting the municipal band contribution and the taxi subsidy. Neither of which is enjoyed by all the people either......but considering the small savings to be realized by cutting them......would be hard felt by many. Cutting the taxi susidy would be a blow to many elderly and others unable to drive. And claiming all that could be covered by L-CAT only shows a real lack of understanding of the need or the hardship.
Since I didn't write the post in question I'm not certain about this.....but I believe this is what they were refering to.
July 30, 2009 at 4:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
There are two landscaping projects on the budget at a total cost of $130,000 that may not be a necessity and just an extravagance. There are also various new vehicle and equipment purchases that may or may not be needed at this time, as well as various other absolutely non essential purchases that may not be needed immediately.
Also, there are some government subsidized programs, that may no longer be able to be subsidized by the City.
Perhaps the City Commissioners, County Commissioners, City Manager, etc., need to be reminded of exactly what the term " BALANCED BUDGET " really pertains to.
Definition: A balanced budget occurs when the total sum of money a government collects in a year is equal to the amount it spends on goods, services, and debt interest.
No matter how you say it, any spending over and above moneys earned or received is " DEFICET SPENDING " which is defined as,
def·i·cit spend·ing
noun
Definition:
spending by borrowing: government spending that is financed by borrowing money rather than through money raised by taxation
So in order for the City, County, State, Federal, governments to return to balanced budget operations, there is going to have to be a lot spending cuts, implemented, which, of course, will not set well with a lot of people !
However, this is just one of life's realitys.
July 30, 2009 at 7:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
No matter how you look at it, a possibly $2.2 million deficet for a city the size of Emporia is a huge defecit.
Let me put it another way that every citizen of Emporia may understand. A budget deficet of the amount mentioned, would mean every man, woman and child in Emporia, all 26,650 of them would have to pay an extra $83.93 to just pay the deficet down. And if the City has to borrow the extra $2.2 million in the way of municipal bonds, this means that the $83.93 extra for every man, woman and child in Emporia would increase due to interest payments.
We as citizens of Emporia have already been told that there will be an increase in water, sewer, solid wast rates of 15%.
If the City and County continue to spend and operate in a deficit spending mode, I believe that you will see a large property tax increase, that no one will be able to afford at this time.
The deficet spending that the City, County, State and Federal governments have been doing in the past, must stop, for the good of the citizens of the City, County, State and Country !
July 30, 2009 at 8:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
biscuitboy (anonymous) says...
I actually didn't write my last post to defend the items I mentioned.....only to try to answer a question raised by some others. Now that I have thrown myself into it however I will say the fireworks display and the band concerts do bring a lot of plesure to a lot of people at a very small total cost.
And though it might be hard for people to grasp that have never been without the luxury of a private vehicle at their constant disposal.....the taxi subsidy can be a lifeline for people less fortunate.....[read older or handicapped].....than the rest of us. A lifeline that L-CAT does not easily replace with its limited hours and schedules.
The total cost of all three of these items is $21,500.00 which is less than a dollar per year per citizen. Why that much could be saved by just eliminating some of the expensive add-ons the city likes to put on all the new vehicles they buy. I mean do city pickups and official business cars all have to include delux interior packages.
July 30, 2009 at 8:13 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )