It wasn’t too long ago that the city’s budget challenges were the talk of the town. Recreation and Senior Centers Closing - Pension Reform Negotiations - Community Meetings - Layoffs and More Layoffs.
So when I heard of a workshop on next year’s budget, I felt compelled to go so I could be mentally prepared for the worst.
The thing is - next year’s budget (if it stays as proposed) is balanced. In fact, the budget process for next year started last October. While other cities continue the debate and contentious arguing over pensions, our city has reached agreement with all our represented AND unrepresented employee groups! All the recent cuts to services and pensions are what essentially have balanced the budget.
So have we weathered the storm?
At the budget meeting, two council members were very clear about wanting to see some alternative budget scenarios. They offered no detail except to say they wanted to be sure the public’s priorities were reflected in the budget – stating that maybe the public would want “more than 54% of the budget to be spent on public safety, or maybe not.”
It’s funny the longer you observe politics, you begin to have a good guess as to what is coming next. In fact, I left the workshop with a strong feeling that a budget battle is looming.
Next up: 4/19/11 City Council Agenda. The same two Council Members will be making a recommendation regarding “police staffing.” I absolutely value our police department and the protection they provide to our community, but let me tell you why this concerns me.
Any recommendation to add-back police positions, creates the need to take away from other departments. Libraries have lost over $1 million in supply, services and materials plus 47% (19) of their staff. Recreation has lost almost 31% (8) of their staff and that is not counting the numerous part-time staff that have been lost. Public Works has lost almost 17% (35) of their staff.
Police have lost 5% (16) which includes nine School Resource Officers (SRO) that are actually being funded by the school districts. So we haven’t actually lost the SROs, they are just not being paid for by the city. Another police position is gone because it was grant funded and the grant ended. Another lost position was a secretary in the police fiscal operations. So - in essence there are only FOUR police positions that are no longer available to the community due to the budget cuts.
We have a great police department. They have continued to meet response times and - according to comments by the Police Chief and City Manager at the budget workshop - there is no sign that service has been impacted by cuts. So, I’ll be curious to hear the recommendation of the council members.
Recreation centers open only two days a week, our only senior center opened only a few days a week, library hours slashed, graffiti abatement decimated ---- It is hard to imagine more cuts to the departments that have born the brunt so far.
Those are my thoughts --- what’s yours? - Z
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