PEORIA, Ariz. (April 6, 2010) – The Peoria City
Council received the proposed Fiscal Year 2011 Budget at a study session on
Tuesday. The total proposed budget is $455 million, a 15 percent reduction
from the previous fiscal year, but contains no cuts to core citizen services nor
any increases to taxes, fees or utility rates.
“Peoria remains in strong financial shape,” said
City Manager Carl Swenson. “Thanks to an organizational focus on improving
efficiency, we have closed a $7.5 million gap between next fiscal year’s
projected expenditures and revenues without significantly affecting any services
to the community.”
Much of the savings is from a substantial reduction
in the city workforce. The budget proposal reduces staffing by 59 positions, but
only seven of those are currently filled. The city once again hopes to place
those individuals elsewhere in the organization, similar to last year when 66
positions were eliminated, but only one employee was not offered a different
position in the city.
No changes to the number of sworn police officers or
fire fighters are proposed.
The proposed $455 million Fiscal Year 2011 budget
comprises a $204.1 million operating budget, a $139.3 million capital
improvement program, $57.4 million for debt service and a $54.2 million
contingency appropriation.
Priority areas within the proposed budget include:
-
Neighborhoods: funding is included to continue the
successful Neighborhood Pride and Neighborhood Grant programs, as well as for
small capital projects that enhance neighborhood livability and several
neighborhood park improvements;
-
Youth and Recreation: youth recreation and
childcare programs will be maintained without increasing fees;
-
Economic Development: money to strengthen business
attraction and retention efforts is included as is funding to advance the
recent master plans for the Old Town and Sports Complex/Entertainment District
areas;
-
Capital Improvements: thanks to aggressive pursuit
of federal grants and regional funding for capital projects, Peoria has
advanced construction of several key projects including Community Park Number
Two (south of 83rd and Olive avenues) and the Agua Fria Truck Route.
The proposed budget will be reviewed in open study
sessions by the Peoria City Council on April 22, April 25 and if needed, April
30. Each of those meetings will be at 4 p.m. in the Public Safety Administration
Building Peoria Room (2nd floor), 8351 W. Cinnabar Avenue. The meetings will
also stream live at www.peoriaaz.gov/channel11 and appear live on Peoria Channel
11.
