City passes a balanced budget

The City Council has voted in favor of a balanced twoyear budget without making any changes to what city staff recommended, but the city's financial future is unclear due to county, state and federal uncertainty.

No residents spoke during the time for public comments at the June 9 meeting.

The $229-million operating and capital-improvement budgets for the 2009-10 fiscal year begin on July 1. The 2010-11 fiscal year budget totals $218 million.

A $6-million, or 8.5 percent, decrease in revenues is the reason for significant reduction in the delivery of services, said finance director John Adams.

The budget suspends a $100,000-a-year facility grant program that helps local sports teams. It also stops the transfer of $100,000 from the general fund budget to an account for openspace purchases. Police patrol hours and a traffic police officer position were also cut.

The city has almost 50 different sources from which it draws revenue, Adams said.

For example, some of the revenue comes from state and federal funds for streets, wastewater or transportation. The city also gets grants for community development or environmental funds.

The city keeps its money in various funds that include the general fund, water fund, wastewater fund, solid waste fund, transportation fund, theaters fund, library fund, light and landscaping fund, stormwater fund and Redevelopment Agency money.

Employees are paid from different sources. Some might be paid entirely from the general fund while others may get percentages of their salaries from several sources, depending on the duties they perform.

The general fund revenue includes taxes and fees, licenses and permits, fines and penalties, interest income, rental of city facilities and charges for city services. These revenues fluctuate.

General fund expenditures include salaries, benefits, maintenance and operations, capital outlay, capital improvements and maintenance improvements.

The 200809 budget estimated operation expenditures at $101 million, 200910 is proposed at $71 million and 201011 is projected at $72 million.

Revenues for 2008-09 were $72 million; estimated revenues for 2009-10 are $66 million and for 2010-11 are $68 million.