HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-16-10 Council to consider priorities for 2011 budget
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
August 16, 2010
3:30 p.m.
Council to consider priorities for 2011 budget
Contact: Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
or Gregg Zientara, City Controller, 235-9216
The South Bend Common Council will discuss its priorities for the coming year as it
begins a series of hearings today on the City’s proposed 2011 budget. Mayor Stephen J.
Luecke and City Controller Gregg Zientara will present an overview of projected income
and expenditures.
The draft budget for the 2011 General Fund, which funds the City’s public safety and
general government functions, shows a 0.5 percent (one-half of one percent) increase
from $63 million in 2010 to $63.3 million in 2011.
The overall City budget – which includes pensions, road projects and user-funded
accounts like utilities – is proposed to be $226.1 million in 2011, down 12.7 percent from
$259.1 million in 2010.
In contrast to the previous two years, no staff reductions are anticipated, although several
new initiatives will improve operating efficiencies and save taxpayer revenue. Income-
based revenue sources, such as Local Option Income Taxes, are projected to be down 18
percent from 2010.
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“While the 2009 recession is expected to reduce tax revenues based on income, our close
tracking of revenue projections and conservative fiscal planning has helped us to live
within our means,” Luecke said. “Our decision to set aside resources because of the
uncertain impact of the property tax caps has strengthened our reserves. This gives us
greater flexibility to address civic priorities.”
The proposed 2011 budget will sustain public-safety operations at full strength – a goal
accomplished during 2010 with support from a new Public Safety Local Option Income
Tax and federal stimulus assistance. These resources will enable police to expand special
patrols, such as the street crime unit, while the fire department is proposing to replace
two outdated firehouses. Plans are to construct new fire stations to replace Station No. 5,
at 2221 Prairie Ave., and Station No. 8, at 2402 Twyckenham Drive. Other capital
projects will be proposed for parks and economic development.
Citywide construction efforts include the completion of Northside Trail to the eastern city
limits and surpassing the 50-mile mark for bicycle lanes and routes. These initiatives
fulfill goals set by Luecke in his 2007 State of the City address.
Code Enforcement will continue demolition of abandoned and vacant houses and update
its count of the number of vacant structures in South Bend. Since beginning demolition
efforts in mid-2007, the City will have demolished more than 500 vacant structures
through the end of 2010.
City crews will continue to gain efficiency in 2011 through:
?Reduced electrical consumption thanks to upgrades at the Wastewater Treatment
Plant.
?Saving overtime costs in public safety by operating at full strength.
?The addition of a pilot City concrete crew, focused on improving curbs and
sidewalks.
?Adding wing plows to City trucks to improve snow-plowing efficiency.
?Continuing to install automated meter reading equipment for City water.
“I’m proud of the work our City staff has done to provide a high level of service while
reducing costs,” Luecke said. “Our careful budgeting has put us in the position, with the
support of the Council, to make strategic investments to improve our economic
opportunity and quality of life in South Bend.”
Here is the schedule of budget hearings before the Common Council:
?4 p.m. Monday, Aug. 16 – Budget overview and Council priorities.
?5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 19 – Administration and Finance, Century Center, Hall of
Fame, Mayor, Legal, Clerk/Council.
?5 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 24 – Code Enforcement, Parks and Recreation.
?3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 25 – Public Works.
?3:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30 – Community and Economic Development, Building
Department, Morris/Palais.
?3 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1 – Police, Fire/EMS.
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