Annual Report 2003
Economic
Balancing the Budget
ANNUAL REPORT on Priorities, Goals and Objectives
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Budget Planning, Monitoring Continue at the City
Changes at the City designed to close a $5.3-million budget gap predicted
for next fiscal year are affecting services in your community.
What do these changes entail?
We’ll see reductions in Library and volunteer office hours; the closure of
a community center; scaled back maintenance of City streets, buildings and
parks; and decreased support for various grant and community service
programs.
How did the process evolve?
To help bring our expenses in line with predicted income, the City Council
adopted a Budget Reduction Plan on May 20. The plan outlines
a long-term organizational strategy to
reduce ongoing expenses while maintaining critical health and safety
services. The plan does not depend on one-time money sources (e.g.,
grants) or City reserves. And the plan affects both services and City
staff.
It calls for eliminating or reducing 56 positions, both full-time and
regular part-time (30 hours/week). However, no layoffs of full-time or
regular part-time employees will happen before
June 30, 2004, short of unforeseen
circumstances.
Fortunately, many of the affected staff positions are already vacant, and
we expect that some employees may retire or move on between now and the
time budget reductions go into effect in July 2004. And final decisions
about any layoffs will be made at the Council’s mid-year budget review
set for February.
Part of the overall long-term budget strategy includes compensating the
City’s workforce in a fair and reasonable way. As a result, the City has
offered salary increases during negotiations to employee groups for the
current fiscal year. We believe it is strategically important to
compensate our employees appropriately.
Budget planning is ongoing and arduous as the State’s fiscal picture and
the economy continue to shift. Look for
opportunities to share your thoughts about how changes affect you. Stay
tuned to the City’s Web site and local media for more info or call 646.3760.
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