ShawneeDispatch.com

Shawnee City Council members will have a lot to think about this holiday weekend.

With the last 2009 city budget presentations made Thursday and $4.2 million to cut to meet the city’s goal of keeping 35 percent of funds in reserves, some hefty decisions are waiting to be made. On Tuesday, the Council is scheduled to meet for a budget wrap-up, and members will make their recommendations on where to cut and save.

At the past two budget meetings, which took place Thursday and June 17, city department directors showed how they have cut their budgets and pinched pennies already.

The Administrative Department, including the city manager, city clerk and human resources, lowered contractual services by 6 percent, saving $44,300. Carol Gonzales, city manager, also will not fill the assistant to the city manager position, vacant since March, until sometime next year to save some money.

Many other departments cut their commodities budgets for items like office supplies, uniforms and technology, even beyond compensating for increased prices for fuel, which also is included in commodities. The Finance Department cut its commodities by 7 percent, or $4,800, and the Development Services Department cut 15 percent of its commodities, saving $16,400.

The Information Technology Department cut the 2009 computer and technology replacement program, which will make it harder to manage computer failures, and it will go another year without a $200,000 generator system needed to back up power at City Hall, the city’s “computer nerve center.” The department also cut 12 percent, or $8,200, of its commodities budget.

The Parks and Recreation Department reduced its budget so much that the 2009 budget will be only .15 percent larger than the 2008 budget. It decided to forego replacing needed equipment and somehow manage increasing maintenance costs of older equipment.

The Public Works Department will manage with four fewer employees than last year, filling just one of five positions currently open for at least the next six months. Ron Freyermuth, public works director, said this would mean mowing, pavement painting and mechanical repair services will lag.

The department had one of the bigger challenges compensating for rising fuel costs; its budget for fuel increased by $30,000.

“Ron and his folks made some substantial decreases to the 2009 budget to make it work,” Gonzales said.

Additionally, the department will put off purchases with a long-term payoff, like better fuel-management systems and buying eight traffic signals currently leased from Kansas City Power & Light — with lease rates constantly rising.

The Police Department will continue with the same number of employees it has had since 2002, though the number of officers per 1,000 populations is 1.54, compared to the 1.75 average of all other cities in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Police Chief Jim Morgan said with Shawnee’s population increase, the department should be adding two or three officers each year and needs more senior officers to oversee the less-experienced officers.

The department reduced 11 percent of its commodities budget, saving $106,900, and its overall budget will increase by just 1 percent.

The Fire Department will defer hiring three additional firefighters. It also will do without a new training officer, which would help ensure standardized training throughout the department.

The Council reviewed a request of its own — putting in equipment so Council meetings could be broadcast live. But the cost of the system was $155,000, with an annual recurring cost of $20,000, and Council members said it was clear that 2009 was not the year to begin this program.

The Council also will have to decide how to plan the 2009 budget without knowing if it can count on funds from the renewal of the countywide sales tax, which will be on the Aug. 5 primary ballot. The city’s portion of funds from the tax will equal about $1 million annually.

Bryan Kidney, city finance director, said the budget could be approved with or without those funds and updated in January of next year. He and Gonzales have recommended that if the tax is approved, most of the funds be used to pay off the city’s debt, with the rest going to the city’s severely cut-down street repair program.

Another decision that might be made is if whether city will reinstate franchise fees on residential gas and electric utilities, which could bring in an extra $2.28 million annually.

Comments

ShawneeDispatch.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.

1. 10 July 2008 at 9:10 a.m.

   Suggest removal

   Permalink

   Gayle_gg (Anonymous) says…

   “The Council reviewed a request of its own…” (July 2, 2008 Shawnee Dispatch)
   Do I understand this correctly, the City is cutting jobs and services to adjust the 2009 budget. Jobs that more than likely support or help to support families and households here in Shawnee. OK, I understand that. My heart goes out to those being laid off. But then to see the Council reviewed a request of their own - installing equipment so Council meetings could be broadcast live? Cost of the system $155,000 with annual recurring costs of $20,000? Thank goodness they have decided 2009 was not the year to begin this! I have to ask the question allot of us are thinking…What year in the future would be good to spend that amount of money for something as frivolous as broadcasting a City Council Meeting live? Is this a 'keeping up with the Jones' need with other cities? How many jobs could be funded with that money? Or services provided? How many people will watch a City Council meeting live? Who in the world proposed such a ridiculous idea? So I'm sitting at home channel surfing, do I watch “City Council Live” or “Ultimate Cage Fighting”? I really dislike the Ultimate Cage Fighting….but I know I would quickly learn the fighters names! Wouldn't it be nice before they spend our tax dollars on this program they survey their constituents on how they feel about this? I believe that amount of money can be spent much better in our beautiful city, as jobs and services…
   I would be interested in hearing how other Shawnee people feel about this issue.

   Gayle Grant Shawnee Resident

Post a comment

ShawneeDispatch.com doesn't necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post.
Read our full policy. Also, read about banned accounts and harassing comments.

Requires free ShawneeDispatch.com registration.