HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-27-10 2011 budget sustains public-safety forces at full strength
Office of the Mayor
NEWS RELEASE
September 27, 2010
5 p.m.
2011 budget sustains public-safety forces at full strength
Contact:
Mikki Dobski, Director of Communications & Special Projects, 235-5855 or 876-1564
or Gregg Zientara, City Controller, 235-9216
Revenue from Local Option Income Taxes and federal stimulus assistance will enable
South Bend police and firefighters to operate at full strength, according the City of South
Bend’s proposed 2011 budget, which is being reviewed in a public hearing tonight.
The 2011 General Fund Budget, which funds the City’s public safety and general
government functions, is essentially flat when compared with 2010.
“This balanced General Fund budget puts the City in a very different place than in 2009
when we overcame the negative impacts of property tax caps with conservative fiscal
policies, targeted budget cuts, Local Option Income Tax increases and fiscally
responsible behavior,” said City Controller Gregg Zientara. “In 2011, all City services
will continue without disruption, including staffing of police and fire departments at full
force.”
Here are other highlights of the proposed budget being considered by the South Bend
Common Council:
A FLAT BUDGET:
? The 2011 budget of $63.3 million includes a 0.5 percent
increase (one-half of 1 percent) of about $300,000, compared with the $63-million
2010 budget.
SOME REVENUE IMPACTED BY ECONOMIC RECESSION:
? Income-based
revenue sources, such as Option Income Taxes, are projected to be down 18 percent
from 2010. But, through close tracking of revenue projections and conservative fiscal
planning, City officials set aside resources to strengthen reserves and enhance
flexibility. At the same time, economic-development projects like Eddy Street
Commons and Innovation Park proceeded despite a global economic crisis.
NO STAFF REDUCTIONS ANTICIPATED:
?In contrast to the previous two years,
no staff reductions are anticipated, although several new initiatives will improve
operating efficiencies and save taxpayer revenue.
COLLECTIVE BARGAINING EMPLOYEES:
?Contracts with the City’s
collective bargaining units representing police, firefighters and other personnel have
yet to be reached.
NON-BARGAINING EMPLOYEES:
?The budget includes a proposed 1.5 percent
salary increase for non-bargaining employees, who went 18 months without a raise at
a time when collective bargaining employees received previously negotiated raises.
(In addition, Mayor Stephen J. Luecke and many director-level employees took a
voluntary 5 percent pay cut for more than a year.) The modest increase for non-
bargaining employees occurs within the City’s budgeted dollars in order to restore
equity among all City employees.
CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SAFETY:
?More than 80 percent of
the City’s 2011 General Fund budget is devoted public safety – Police, Fire and the
911 Communications Center – compared with 75 percent as recently as 2009. The
expanded funding has enabled the Police Department to bring its number of sworn
officers from 248 to full strength at 260 in eight months, with the Fire Department
reaching its full strength of 248 firefighters during 2010. Even though the City’s
General Fund budget is flat, the Police Department’s proposed 2011 budget will
increase 2.54 percent to $29 million, while the Fire Department’s will increase 3.27
percent to $22.5 million.
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