Budget Study Session Thursday

The City Council will be holding a study session on the budget this Thursday afternoon at 3:30pm in the Council Chambers.

Staff will be presenting an overview of the budget modifications made to date to address our $11.3 million budget deficit. Back in January at a Council work session, staff outlined the issues and challenges facing each department in addressing the budget deficit. In conjunction with a Council-appointed Budget Advisory Committee, staff has been making both immediate and long term adjustments to every department's spending plan.

To date, we've already reduced staffing levels in nearly every department. Staff has also received Council approval for cost-saving restructuring plans that impact Public Works, Community Development, Police and Public Works.

At this point, it is appropriate for staff to get confirmation from the City Council for addtional cost saving ideas. Some of the major issues to be discussed include the proposal to have staff take over the maintenance of landscape maintenance districts, the shifting of Development Services to a special revenue fund and postponing until September adoption of a final budget.