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(click image to access FY 25 Budget Book, pg. 206)
In total, the proposed budget includes (and has changed by):
Total budgeted revenues: $425,091,216 (increase 24%)
Total budgeted expenses: $473,696,707 (increase 10.6%)
Median home taxes & assessments: $1,078.80 (decrease $38.87)
Average monthly utility bill: $99.74 (increase $13.40)
One thing to note is that despite budgeted revenues increasing by almost 25%, the impact to a median homeowner (taxes, assessments, and utility costs) is a net decrease.
Before City Council adopts the budget they will discuss numerous budget amendments, making adjustments to the final budget. Seventeen have already been discussed and voted on by members of the Budget & Finance Committee. Some were passed unanimously (5-0) while others received a narrow majority vote (3-2), and will go before the full City Council tonight as committee recommendations.
Last year's budget adoption process was a productive one, with City Council debating and adopting 12 amendments including requiring the budget document to reflect the impact to a median home, directing the City to work with the County on a 72-hour arraignment hold, and providing funds for CPTED improvements of public property.
A few of tonight's proposed budget amendments dealing with our Chamber priorities—public safety and housing—are highlighted below.
Amendment: CM XXXXX 1 [Councilman Kennedy]
Text: The Stage Coach trail funding is currently in the General Fund Non-Departmental Budget. The total is $615,000.00. I would move the Stage Coach trail project into the Parks CIP Budget. I would leave the $615,000 in General Fund.
Committee Vote: Passed 3-2
Amendment: Kennedy 4
Text: Use $615k of Parks Programs fund reserves for Stagecoach Trail
Committee Vote: Passed 5-0
Amendment: CM XXXXX 2 [Councilman Kennedy]
Text: Add 12 Police officers to the Police Budget for FY25. Transfer $615,000 from Non-Departmental to General Fund Police. $350,000 already in the Police budget for 3 officers and transfer $200,000.00 from Police overtime to fund ($1,165,000) 12 officers.
Committee Vote: Passed 3-2
Amendment: CM XXXXX 3 [Councilman Kennedy]
Text: Fund 1 additional officer for Downtown from Downtown TIF funding $120,000.00.
Committee Vote: Passed
Amendment: CM Aspenlieder 1
Text: Amend FY25 Budget to add $310,000 to Fire Budget to add three (3) full-time firefighters by transferring $310,000 from MET budget (State Entitlement Transfer). Additionally, reallocate $412,000 from BFD overtime budget to add an additional four (4) full-time firefighters.
Committee Vote: Passed 3-2
Amendment: CM Aspenlieder 3
Text: Amend FY25 budget through a transfer of $40,000 from the City Attorney budget (intergovernmental transfers) to the Municipal Court Budget to increase Municipal Court Judge salaries to match those of District Court Judges.
Committee Vote: Failed 2-3
Amendment: Rupsis 3
Text: I move to fund 1 new FTE for a Housing Programs Manager in the Planning Department from the General Fund.
Committee Vote: Motion failed for lack of second
It's impossible to predict how tonight will go, and mental mathing how various amendments shift monies back-and-forth is enough to make your head hurt. Considering how much work has gone into preparing, adjusting, and projecting changes to the budget throughout this process, we think it appropriate to recognize our City Finance Director, Andy Zoeller, for all his hard work over the last few months on the budget. Thank you, Director Zoeller!
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