2012-2013 Budget - City of Saginaw MI

Safety Funding/Planning/Sustainability was constructed to move toward that goal, as public safetyrepresents the single largest allocation for the general fund budget. This particular group consists of avariety of stakeholders—residents, leaders of businesses in the city, one of the largest faith-basedorganizations in the city, along with public safety, financial, and criminal justice professionals. Giventhat the current models for public safety, both police and fire, are not sustainable with the limited generalfund resources, the group will facilitate discussion and fact finding regarding available options.Ultimately, the group will be a source of ideas and recommendations for changes that will be submitted tothe Council in the first quarter of FY 2013. The FY 2013 budget will be revisited at that time to includewhatever modifications that comes forth from the work of this committee.In FY 2012, the City’s Public Services Director developed a staffing reorganization plan. This effort wasnecessary to reduce expenditures in the Department of Public Services, such as major and local streets,which are funded through State formula allocations. In an effort to eliminate budgetary issues in theseareas, the Director prepared a department-wide review that addressed service delivery methods, staffinglevels, shared assignments, and employee allocations. This process will yield savings in excess of$750,000 in FY 2013.Additionally, in FY 2012 the City Attorney’s Office was eliminated and a contract was established withan outside law firm. It is estimated that this change will save the city approximately $257,000 in the firstfull year of operating in this manner (FY 2013).The city will need to duplicate such efforts in other departments in order to remain successful. Theexample from the Department of Public Services illustrates that changes must be made in all areas,including non-general fund. However, it also emphasizes that nothing is beyond review or modification.This was a major reorganizational review of a non-general fund department, one which typically has nothad funding issues. In the current economy, the city cannot afford to leave any departments “as is.” Wewill continue to work to improve processes and reinvent government in the City of Saginaw.Part of the task of the Committee on Public Safety Funding/Planning/Sustainability will be to examine analternative method for the management and administration of the Police and Firemen Pension System,pursuant to chapter 16, section 1 of the city charter. The committee will examine the feasibility and costefficiency of a third part or agency to replace the current pension system as defined in ordinance, D-678.Recycling ProgramIn an effort to follow the guidelines of community sustainability and green initiatives, the city willcontinue to operate a recycling site at the Public Services Building for one day a month. Funds areincluded in the 2013 Budget for its operational needs. Additionally, the city began a curbside recyclingprogram in April of 2012 and will continue with the program in FY 2013.Capital ImprovementsGeneral Fund capital improvement expenses have not been included in the FY 2013 budget. Due toeconomic conditions, not only within Saginaw but throughout the country, we have experienced asignificant decline in revenues and this trend is expected to continue in FY 2013. The city’s goal is tocontinue to provide quality services to residents, and this cannot be accomplished this year if we includefunding for capital improvement projects. We have been able to balance this budget without a noticeabledecrease in city services, which is a significant accomplishment as other local governments in Michiganhave cut service hours to citizens and have experienced significant job loss.The city will continue to work to maintain our current service level. At the same time, we realize thatsome capital improvement expenses are necessary. City administration continually strives to locate andutilize grant funding for many of these projects, and will continue to do so going forward. Additionally,5