A City Manager budget memo for the Fiscal Year 2009/10 contains information explaining the proposed budget for FY2009/10. The complete proposed budget should be available on Friday and uploaded onto TurlockCityNews.com.
The 2009/10 budget review process began with an estimated $5.1 million deficit and would have been over $6 million if the previously negotiated 5% employee contribution did not take place.
On February 10, 2009, during Fiscal Year 2008/09 Mid-Year Budget review process City Council appointed a City Council Budget Sub-Committee, comprised of Mayor John Lazar and Vice Mayor Ted Howze. The focus of the sub-committee was to work with Staff in developing the FY2009/10 Budget, critically evaluating all operational costs, inclusive of personnel staffing levels – seeking expenditure reductions.
While allocating up to $2.5 million in General Fund reserves, making operational cuts, considering terminating Management Leave and suspension/postponement of all Merit Pay Step increases, and such, staffing reductions are also being proposed.
The budget reduction strategy for this fiscal year embraced City Council direction of “top down” approach to staffing reductions. Through this budget the city will reduce the organizational structure by one Department, eliminating the Administrative Services Department, established in 2007 with the addition of the Administrative Services Head. Oversight of Finance, Human Resource and Information Technology service areas, that comprise the Administrative Services Department, will be shifted back under the Assistant City Manager.
One personnel issue that is specifically stated in the City Manager memo is that the City Council Budget Sub-Committee, who has dedicated many hours to this budget process, concurring with the recommendations contained herein, was not able to reach concurrence on the proposed elimination of the Arts Facilitator position.
The summary of proposed eliminated positions for FY2009/10 states:
The complete official City Manager memo is here in pdf form. The FY2009/10 proposed budget will be uploaded on Friday as soon as the City of Turlock makes it available.
This proposed FY2009/10 budget will be discussed at the Budget Workshop to be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2009 at City Hall.
There are still many issues the organization may be addressing at the meeting or before a finalized budget including employee bumping rights, part-time/temporary cuts before any full-time employees, the proposed organization restructure, and such.