HomeMy WebLinkAbout2021-08-11 Budget Hearing #1 Follow-up Questions1200N COUNTY-CITY BUILDING PHONE 574.235.9216
227 W. JEFFERSON BLVD. FAX 574.235.9928
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA 46601-1830
CITY OF SOUTH BEND, IN JAMES MUELLER, MAYOR
DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE
Personnel & Finance Committee: 2022 City-Wide Budget Overview Meeting
August 11, 2021
Responses to Council Questions
Question #1 (Councilmember Hamann): What is the City doing / will the City do around process mapping and
efficiency studies to ensure that we are utilizing resources as efficiently as possible?
Because the City’s revenue growth fails to keep up with inflation and the cost of providing services, we have
no choice but to be creative and proactive in finding efficiencies and innovative ways to solve problems.
Led by the City’s Innovation & Technology Department (and especially the Business Analytics team within
that department), the City has a variety of ongoing and continuous improvement programs that aim to
evaluate and correct wasted time or staff, thereby increasing efficiency. These evaluations include process
mapping, shadowing, and data analysis aimed at benchmarking various processes and identifying wastes.
These evaluations typically take place at one of two levels: either 1) at the level of a broad, fundamental
function within the government, or 2) at the level of a particular process or service.
One example of ongoing, data-driven analysis and improvement is the City’s ongoing “SB Stat” program,
whereby City officials meet quarterly to push forward programs and improvements across the City. The
goals of this program are the following:
• Empower departments to assist in the strategy, design, implementation, and evaluation of municipal
services
• Improve service delivery by identifying, discussing, and taking action to mitigate potential problems
• Focus on data that matters to improving the lives of residents of South Bend
The SB Stat program in 2021 has quarterly meetings to discuss the following focus areas:
• Police Department
• Fire Department
• Customer Service initiatives (in various departments throughout the City)
• Neighborhoods (including elements of infrastructure, planning, and community engagement)
• Venues Parks & Arts
Outside of the SB Stat structure, the City also undertakes specific reviews for particular processes and
services (such as mowing, pothole filling, business licensing, etc.). When we undertake these kinds of
reviews, we are generally attempting to figure out how to save time/money, digitize and streamline
information, or evaluate processes in preparation for the planned or potential implementation of a new
software system.
Page 2 of 2
Question #2 (Councilmember Warner): What is the projected deficit in the General Plus Funds in 2021?
If property taxes follow expectations set up by the June distribution and the City spends all of its budgeted
expenditures, the projected deficit in the General Plus Funds in 2021 is $3.95 million:
Beginning Ending
Cash
Balance
2021
Estimated Budgeted
Projected
Surplus
Cash
Balance
1/1/2021 Revenues Expenditures (Deficit) 12/31/2021
101 General Fund 53,544,921 74,679,507 74,429,285 250,222 53,795,143
249 Local Income Tax - Public Safety 4,045,717 9,424,386 9,618,013 (193,627) 3,852,090
404 Local Income Tax - Certified Shares 14,902,237 13,731,008 15,086,396 (1,355,388) 13,546,849
408 Local Income Tax - Economic Dev 19,044,274 14,521,586 17,177,250 (2,655,664) 16,388,610
Total - General Plus Funds 91,537,150 112,356,487 116,310,945 (3,954,458) 87,582,692