News Release
May 20, 2010
Concord City Council to consider painful cuts at budget hearings June 1 and June 22
The Concord City Council will consider a number of cuts to City services as well as new revenue sources at two budget hearings, June 1 and 22. The proposed changes were presented at the annual Budget Workshop May 11, and reflect input from the public gathered through surveys and at five Community Priority Workshops held in February and March.
At the Budget Workshop, Mayor Guy Bjerke and members of the Council expressed their hope that the public would weigh in on the proposed budget at the upcoming hearings.
The June 1 and 22 budget hearings will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the City Council Chambers at Civic Center, 1950 Parkside Dr.
The proposed cuts and new revenue sources are necessary in light of severe reductions in the City's revenue from property and sales tax, which accounts for two-thirds of the City's General Fund budget.
"We are continuing to see reductions in every revenue source," said City Manager Dan Keen. "Over the last two years, we have cut the number of people who work at the City by 25 percent, but tried to maintain the same level of service to residents. Last year, we had mandatory furloughs for non-police employees, who took between a 5 percent and 20 percent cut in wages and benefits. At this point, with revenue continuing to fall and 25 percent fewer staff members, we have no choice but to make some painful cuts and look at new revenue programs to balance the budget."
Some of the proposed cuts include:
- Closing the Police Department's Southern Field Office
- Eliminating the children's camp program at Camp Concord in 2011 and expanding the family camp program
- Reducing maintenance to parks, playfields and medians
- Withdrawal of City funding from the CARES after-school program and the community grant program
- Reducing front desk hours at the Police Department, Parks & Recreation office and Finance
- Dissolving the Human Relations Commission
- Reducing funding for school crossing guards by 25 percent
- Broadcasting fewer community events on the Concord Cable TV channel
The Council will also consider several suggestions to increase revenue including:
- Installation of parking meters downtown
- Charging rent for the use of the community meeting room at the police station
- Charging a nominal fee for signing off on a "fix-it" ticket by police officers
- Initiating a new franchise fee for tow truck operators who do work for the City
- Charging developers for review of transportation plans
"These proposed cuts and revenue options will only address half of the City's $13 million structural budget deficit and we will have to use more of the City's reserve funds to balance the budget this year," said Keen. "Closing the entire hole in the budget in one year would result in even more drastic reductions in public safety service levels, recreation programs, building inspections and maintenance of City parks, playfields and community centers."
For a complete list of proposed service reductions and revenue options, visit www.cityofconcord.org and select "Budget Update" in the News and Events box.
The budget hearings will be televised live on Concord Cable TV channel 28 (Comcast) and 29 (Astound), AT&T U-verse (Channel 99) and on the web at www.cityofconcord.org.
For more information, contact the City Clerk's Office, (925) 671-3495.