Potential Service Level Reductions
Prepared in Response to Governor’s Proposed Budget
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Program/Function |
Service Impact if Program Reduced or Eliminated |
Notes |
Estimated Reduction |
City Manager Recommended Reduction? |
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GENERAL FUND |
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Police |
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Eliminate School Crossing Guards |
If schools desire, service should be provided by schools. |
Estimates reflect half year costs. |
$50,000 |
Yes |
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Fire/Medical |
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Eliminate public CPR class (duplicate of Douglas County American Red Cross program) |
Reductions will reduce public relations impact and may affect community safety through public education efforts. |
Reductions identified by department during 2009 budget development process (with 2009 associated costs). |
$30,000 |
Yes |
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Eliminate/reduce school district educational programs |
Same as above |
Same as above |
$18,000 |
Yes |
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Eliminate bike helmet program (or charge for the program) |
Same as above |
Same as above |
$30,000 |
Yes |
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Reduce or eliminate employee educational degree programs |
Eliminate tuition reimbursement to staff for advanced degrees. |
Per MOU, education funds are approved by the Chief when department resources are available. |
$20,000 |
Yes |
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Legal Services |
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Eliminate Human Relations division |
Re-assign duties relating to enforcement of Civil Rights Ordinance within the Legal Services Department. |
Total division budget. (Eliminates all program costs, including 2 ˝ FTE.) Full year cost is $185,000. |
$92,500 |
Yes |
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Organization-wide cuts/other miscellaneous |
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Agency Funding |
See attached for specific listing and recommended funding level. |
Reduce 2009 funding by 32%. |
$342,292 |
Yes |
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Eliminate ˝ of Employee Longevity Program |
May affect ability to retain employees. |
Due to limited resources in 2009, the discretionary longevity bonus has been budgeted at one-half the traditional amount with the intent of reviewing the status of revenues and expenditures during the budget year to determine funding level.
Per MOU, the decision regarding funding level for police and fire employees will be reviewed in November 2009 in conjunction with review of revenues and expenditures. |
$130,000 |
No |
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Eliminate Staff Pay Increases
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May affect ability of the City to recruit and retain employees and be competitive with other employers. |
Total amount budgeted was $750,000. Of that amount, approximately $390,000 is contractually obligated under MOU agreements and may not be changed unilaterally. |
$360,000 |
No |
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Eliminate City Auditor Position |
No independent audit of City services and programs. |
Cost estimate reflects general fund savings only. |
$56,000 |
No |
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City Manager’s Office |
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Eliminate Economic Development Coordinator/Planner Position
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Would reduce city ability to review and analyze economic development opportunities. |
Estimated reduction reflects salary and benefit costs for economic development planner/coordinator. |
$85,000 |
No |
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Eliminate E-gov Coordinator |
Without staff to program and lead website development, a number of web features would have to be eliminated and few if any new egov features could be added. |
Estimated reduction reflects salary and benefit costs for e-gov coordinator. |
$69,000 |
No |
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Planning and Development Services |
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Eliminate Historic Preservation program |
Shift responsibility for historic preservation review to the State. Would require amendment to Ordinance. |
Estimate based on salary and benefits costs of historic preservation planner and planning intern. |
$100,000 |
No |
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Eliminate GIS function in PDS |
Service to internal departments and public would be reduced; website maintenance would not occur at current levels; time sensitive analysis on protest petitions and other development related elements would not be possible. |
Eliminate 1 to 2 positions, estimate include salary and benefits costs. |
$70,000 to $160,000 determined by positions eliminated |
No |
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Eliminate Long Range planning |
Reduced focus on long range planning and updates to comp plan; reduced support of current planners by shifting more Planner of the Day responsibility to current planners. |
Eliminate 1 to 2 positions; estimate includes salary and benefits costs. |
$75,000 to $150,000 determined by positions eliminated |
No |
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Public Works |
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Reduce street maintenance – concrete crew |
Reduce response times for street maintenance activities and would result in reduction in pavement condition rating. |
Eliminate 2 positions; estimate includes salary and benefits costs. |
$100,000 |
No |
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Reduce Street maintenance expenditures |
Reductions would affect our ability to continue maintenance of roadways within the city, with a significant reduction in pavement condition. |
$500,000 reflects approximately 10% of total 2008 maintenance budget. |
$500,000 |
No |
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Special Alcohol Fund |
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Police |
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Move SRO funding from Special Alcohol Fund to the General Fund |
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Estimates reflect half year salary and benefits costs for three police officers. |
$125,000 |
Yes |
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Other |
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Agency Funding |
See attached for specific listing and recommended funding level. |
Reduce 2009 funding by 50%. |
$156,075 |
Yes |
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Special Recreation Fund |
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Other |
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Agency Funding |
See attached for specific listing and recommended funding level. |
Reduce 2009 funding by 50%. |
$25,250 |
Yes |
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Parks and Recreation |
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City Band Concerts |
Elimination of city band concert series in South Park. |
Cost of City Band paid from this fund |
$12,000 |
Yes |
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Eliminate Prairie Park Nature Center
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Elimination of educational and ecological programs serving the community and youth; wildlife rescue efforts and community education regarding wildlife and animals. |
While not a general fund expenditure, savings from fund 211 could be used to offset other general fund expenditures. Total annual budget is $235,000, however, revenues totaling $42,000 are budgeted; net impact is reduction of $193,000. Half year estimate = $96,500 |
$96,500 |
Yes |
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Reduce hours in aquatics division |
Reduced service hours and season at the indoor and outdoor aquatic centers; closure of the South Park wading pool; reduction of staff (part time or full time) |
Have an agreement with school district for operation of indoor aquatic center. |
$60,000 |
Yes |
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Reduce hours at recreation centers |
Eliminate non-revenue generated hours on weekends at Community building, East Lawrence Rec Center, and Holcom Rec Center; reduce daily hours of operation by one hour; reduction of staff (part time). |
Facilities would remain open for classes, programs, and event reservations |
$30,000 |
Yes |
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Downtown Beautification |
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Do not fill vacant maintenance position; reduce horticulture program by 1 position. Cost of $60,000 reflects salary and benefits expenses.
Reduce funding for seasonal color change out for downtown planters - $10,000. |
$70,000 |
Yes |
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Eliminate / Reduce special events |
Review programs offered for potential elimination. |
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$25,000 - $100,000 |
No |
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Eliminate / Reduce special populations programs |
Review programs offered for potential elimination. |
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$25,000 - $100,000 |
No |