Springfield City Manager Greg Burris wrapped up 2009 by recommending city budget cuts to cover a $1.27 million revenue shortfall in the second quarter of fiscal 2010.
At a Jan. 5 City Council luncheon, Burris answered council member questions about his recommendations. Regardless of whether council approves the cuts during its Jan. 11 meeting, the key thought came from Mayor Jim O'Neal: "Where do we go from here?"
Burris said another shortfall in the third quarter would force the city to make some very tough decisions.
"There is no low-hanging fruit left. We now need a picker," Burris said. "We got flat lucky this time, or we would have been into layoffs and furloughs."
That luck came by way of a federal grant to the Springfield-Greene County Health Department for distributing the H1N1 vaccine. The Health Department has been able to cover some of its expenses through the grant, which allows the city to withhold its $225,000 transfer from the general fund.
Adding other departmental recommendations brings the cuts to $628,500. Another $645,000 would be saved under the second-quarter hiring freeze, which combined would cover the revenue shortfall.
Most of the shortfall is attributed to a $892,500 decrease in general sales tax revenues, which are down 9.8 percent compared to this time last fiscal year. Additionally, City Utilities natural gas revenues are down $121,000, city building development fees are down $110,000, and Municipal Court fines are down $150,000.
Burris attributed the court shortage to fewer officers on the streets - a byproduct, he noted, of budget cuts by the Police Department. "When we're down that many officers, we're going to be down court revenues as well," he said.
Other suggested cuts include $100,000 from the Department of Public Information and a total of $163,000 from Public Works. Public Works would save $63,000 by cutting back on the frequency of facility cleaning.
Both Public Works and Public Information may need to delay equipment purchases. Some of that equipment, Burris noted, ideally needs to be replaced. He said there are some Public Works vehicles with high mileage, along with other equipment, such as lawn mowers and wood chippers, whose replacement will be delayed.
Burris said that another round of cuts would, by necessity, become more systemic, giving the example of Health Department inspectors. There is currently one inspector, down from three, who responds to complaints about building hazards, Burris said. Another round of cuts could open a debate on whether that remaining position should continue to be staffed.
"We've used all of our ways to shelter the average citizen from seeing these cuts," Burris said.
Council is expected to approve the budget recommendations Jan. 11. As far as third-quarter projections, Burris said there is hope that holiday sales taxes will bring better news. January's check will reflect November sales, he noted.
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