{"id":1525,"date":"2012-05-08T18:22:57","date_gmt":"2012-05-08T18:22:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=1525"},"modified":"2012-05-10T22:41:02","modified_gmt":"2012-05-10T22:41:02","slug":"the-citys-financial-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesecretnewsonline.com\/?p=1525","title":{"rendered":"The City’s Financial Future"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>

Emeryville City Hall<\/p><\/div>\n

Emeryville\u2019s Financial Advisory Committee met on April 23 and tackled a draft of the city\u2019s proposed budget for the next two years.\u00a0 The 245-page document is a rough map of how the city will earn its living and pay its bills. It starts a budget process we citizens should watch carefully, and it proceeds in an atmosphere of state, national, and global economic uncertainty.<\/p>\n

The size of the city\u2019s staff peaked some years ago at 182 employees.\u00a0 Emeryville presently employs 148, and if the proposed budget is adopted, that number will drop to 143.5.\u00a0 The drop in 4.5 more positions involves four different departments and includes an assistant city attorney, a building inspector, two economic development\/housing staffers, and a community service technical aide.\u00a0 This is our current \u201ccontribution\u201d to the wave of recession-driven public sector job losses occurring right across the nation.<\/p>\n

On a more positive note, the proposed two-year budget projects that the city will take in $1,901,896 more than it will spend, despite the loss of $1.7 million in Redevelopment Agency funds.\u00a0 The positive balance stems from reduced spending, an anticipated $750,000 boost in business license taxes, and an increase of $1.2 million in sales and hotel tax revenues.\u00a0 \u00a0We\u2019ll have to keep our fingers crossed regarding these projections, but they are reasonable assumptions based on present trends.<\/p>\n

But who indeed can predict the future?\u00a0 In our meeting, City Council Member Nora Davis, a member of the Finance Committee, worried about further state takeaways from municipalities and the possible need for additional litigation expenses over funding for Redevelopment Agency projects already under way or in advanced planning stages.\u00a0 Other members added their own frets. In my own darker moments, I worry about a stalled national economic recovery and turbulences in the global economy. \u00a0Our city staffers are not unaware of such threats.\u00a0 Reserves and contingency funds are built into the proposed budget.\u00a0 We can only hope they won\u2019t be needed.<\/p>\n

We were all pleased to see $58,000 in the budget for community promotion grants and funding from other sources for our traditional celebration of the arts, the Emeryville Historical Society, and the new Poet Laureate Program.\u00a0 We also noted with approval $50,000 set aside for the Emeryville Community Action Program or Ohana, its successor organization.\u00a0 These are all programs that add to the vitality of the city and help honor our obligations to one another. Let me add personal satisfaction at the inclusion of $230,000 a year for funding of the Emeryville Child Development Center, which will underwrite efforts to turn it into a program of outstanding quality.\u00a0 Investing in the youngest among us is a sure step to a better future.<\/p>\n

Committee member Jac Asher asked staff for a clearer, more comprehensive introductory statement to the proposed budget, spelling out the principles and values that shaped it.\u00a0 We all agreed that such an introduction might help our fellow citizens better understand the complex document and, with luck, encourage them to participate in giving it its final shape.<\/p>\n

How to get involved?\u00a0 Three key budget workshops are scheduled for later this month in the City Council Chambers at City Hall.\u00a0 All are open to the public and are designed to allow broad input to the budget-making process.\u00a0 The dates are:<\/p>\n

Monday, May 21
\nTuesday, May 22
\nWednesday, May 23.<\/p>\n

Each session starts at 5:30 pm.\u00a0 Come have your say!<\/p>\n

Bill Reuter is a Resident Member and Chair of the Emeryville Finance Advisory Committee.<\/em><\/p>\n

To comment on this story, click on the headline to go to the story page, then scroll to the bottom. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n


\n<\/em><\/p>\n