March 13, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City Budget Now Available on Web
DECATUR - The City of Decatur’s proposed budget, including a budget address and video explaining the city’s current budget situation is now available on the city’s web site.
This information can be accessed by clicking the “City Budget” button on the left side of the web page.
The city has proposed a budget that is balanced and which does not call for a tax increase to cover what is expected to be a $3 million budget deficit next fiscal year. Instead, a series of cuts and fund transfer’s have been proposed to help address the immediate funding problem while the city works to implement longer-term changes to help avoid similar situations as we go forward.
The city has cut $1.2 million from city operations alone which, in addition to other cuts and funding adjustments should fill the expected budget gap for this year. Some of the proposed changes include cutting travel and conference expenses by 35% and eliminating a number of positions which now stand vacant. We will also reassess the criticality and necessity of the services we now provide and explore opportunities to use current technology to improve efficiency. There are a number of capital projects that we propose delaying and the goal is to offer a voluntary severance plan for all city employees which would offer a cash payout for employees to sever employment with the city.
The Decatur City Council will begin budget discussions during the regularly scheduled council meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 16 in the council chamber of the Decatur Civic Center. For more information contact Billy Tyus at 424-2753.