Where Should We Make The Cuts?

If you read the paper, listen to the radio, or watch the news, it's no secret our city, like many others, is experiencing extreme financial difficulties. Revenue is down, which means we have to make cuts. The question that remains is where should we make those cuts?

Last week we had a semi-annual budget review. We contemplated our 3.1 million dollar shortfall in the budget, and how to bridge the gap.

On the table are many ideas, but none that I am entirely comfortable with. I will lay out some of the options that have been presented for consideration. Keep in mind no single option listed below will bridge the gap, it will have to be a combination of options.

• Ask employees to take a 10% pay cut.


• Cut the police budget by $500,000.00, which amounts to a reduction of one motorcycle officer, reduction of one narcotics task force officer, and a reduction of about 5 hours of patrol time a day.


• Ask employees to take an additional furlough^* day, taking it to two (2), and mandate those days be taken on Fridays. That means City Hall would be closed every Friday.


• Ask employees to take an additional furlough^* day, taking it to two (2), and scatter those days throughout the year. This amounts to a total of 24 days a year for each employee.


• Ask employees to take one furlough day and contribute to their pension plan.

^* FYI, a furlough means you take a day off, but without pay.

So, I'd like to know YOUR thoughts. Do you have some ideas that would help us balance our budget, while keeping the impact on our ability to provide services at a minimum? Ideas about how to generate revenue? I invite you to use this blog as your tool to talk with me, so I can take your ideas, consider them, and provide them to the entire city council for consideration. All I ask is that you keep it realistic, stick to the topic, and try not to use any expletives!