Final Public Hearing on City Budget Is Tonight

The final public hearing for the Proposed 2013 Budget will be Monday, May 14. This is the last of a series of public hearings and allows residents to review both details and ask questions in regard to the 2013 fiscal plan.

For the second consecutive year, University City is operating with a budget surplus of $421,583 in the city’s general fund. The city maintains a budget surplus with no reduction in city services, no increase in real estate taxes and no proposed sales tax increases.  At the same time, it has increased funding for fundamental services such as police and fire operations while still maintaining funding for community initiatives that include U City in Bloom and funding for its Youth Program initiative.

“Our focus has been on maintaining the high quality of services to the residents of University City in a cost-efficient and effective manner,” Lehman Walker, City Manager said in a press release. “We have found a better way to do things that have resulted in operating budget reductions without any reduction in services.”

The current proposed University City budget includes $26,168,860 in planned revenues and $25,747,277 in planned expenditures, resulting in a budget surplus of $421,583. In addition, the city’s general fund has approximately $13 million in reserves and is only used for large capital items and to address emergency situations.

Walker provided several examples of “the better ways” the city has adopted:

• A cooperative effort between the and departments has resulted in a significant long-term savings for fire and emergency management system dispatch services. This effort will allow both departments to have an up-to-date dispatch system with an upgraded dispatch center that will provide long-term savings for the city.
• The police and finance departments are working together to elevate parking meter enforcement/maintenance protocol to ensure properly working meters throughout the city to limit parking fee losses.
• The city’s Information Technology Department has outsourced all projects. This has provided considerable savings in personnel costs while providing the city to outsource both talent and expertise in a very dynamic and ever-changing support category.
• Community Development is utilizing a new software program (myGov) which manages permits and inspections online.
• Consolidation of the Public Works and Parks has eliminated duplication of effort and provided further cost-savings for the city
• Public Works and Parks will continue to upgrade lights on all facilities to be more energy efficient
• Some city staff positions are being redesigned to ensure proper skill set to enhance service delivery and to increase efficiency and effectiveness
• Recommendations to improve financial services will be implemented resulting in improved efficiency and work product.