Springfield City Council members voiced their hopes May 4 during the first of a series of discussions to address the city’s fiscal 2011 budget. The reality of sinking revenues, however, was the first order of business.
During the lunch meeting at City Hall, Springfield Finance Director Mary Mannix Decker outlined a budget proposal that projects flat sales tax revenues between fiscal years 2010 and 2011. Those revenues make up 53 percent of the general fund. The prediction amounts to a $2 million decline in comparable revenues in fiscal 2011, putting a hurdle in the path of the city’s goal to restore some departmental budget cuts.
During the fiscal 2010 cuts, $1.3 million was slashed from department budgets, and $715,000 remains cut for fiscal 2011. Declining revenues already have prompted $4.9 million in general fund cuts during fiscal 2010, in anticipation of a $3 million dip in year-to-year sales tax revenues this year.
Initial concerns voiced by council members include the ability to maintain current services on a general fund budget of $67 million. City staff and services already have been pared down, with 200 city positions – 70 from the Police and Fire departments – left unfilled due to a hiring freeze in effect since January 2009.
“It’s kind of like driving your car in fifth gear flat out for as long as you can,” said City Manager Greg Burris. “I won’t say we’re on the verge of collapse, but I have been absolutely amazed at the way our remaining work force has stepped up.”
Because of a three-quarter cent public safety sales tax passed in November, the city can trim $3.9 million from its fiscal 2011 budget by decreasing its Police-Fire Pension Fund contribution to 35 percent from 52.4 percent. According to the budget recommendation, some of that money can be used to hire 30 police officers and two firefighters.
The budget also allocates $240,000 to give each city employee a $300 pay increase, which Burris acknowledged wasn’t much but could help offset the cost of rising insurance premiums.
Additional budget discussions will be held at upcoming council luncheons, and the public hearing is scheduled for June 1, Mannix said. There will be other opportunities for the public to comment before the budget is approved by July 1.
Streetscape projects At its May 3 meeting, council considered reallocating $1.06 million in state grant money to update center city.
Members heard five bills that would allow the city to enter an agreement with the Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission in order to redirect grant money originally intended for the Jordan Valley Car Park – now privately owned by Springfield developer John Q. Hammons – to several streetscape projects in downtown Springfield.
If the bills are approved, the Missouri Department of Transportation grant would be used to replace old sidewalks, add lighting, bring sidewalks and crosswalks up to Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and address storm-water and utility issues within center city.
Council will vote on bills addressing four projects at its May 17 meeting. A bill related to another streetscape project – Park Central East and West – was declared an emergency and approved May 3. That allows the project to be placed on the state commission’s June meeting agenda.[[In-content Ad]]
Taking shape on 3.5 acres just east of State Highway H/Glenstone Avenue in the area of Valley Water Mill Park are the Fulbright Heights Apartments – three 23,000-square-foot buildings with 24 units each for a total of 72 one- and two-bedroom apartments.
