Quality Services at an Affordable Cost
City Commission Budget Discussions Continue
May 10, 2017
Today, the City Commission held the third budget-focused workshop in its ongoing series. Items discussed included the progress of the Fiscal Year 2017 (FY17) budget and plans for the FY18 budget. This is part of the City’s commitment to a transparent and engaging budget process.
At the workshop, the Municipal Cost Comparison, which has been expanded to include businesses, was presented. The refreshed comparison shows that this year, similar to last year, the City of Tallahassee remains among the lowest in total municipal cost when compared to similar cities in Florida. This means that citizens enjoy a high quality of life at an affordable rate when it comes to city services. The same is true for small to medium size businesses, which make up the majority of businesses in Tallahassee. Among the 11 comparison cities, Tallahassee ranked the second lowest and, in some cases, the lowest.
Results from the second quarter of FY17 show that the General Fund is within budget. Reduced sales in the Electric Utility through the end of the second quarter were the result of a mild winter. Electric is reacting to reduced sales and through Q2 has reduced operating expenses through operational efficiencies and other reduced costs.
As part of FY18 budget development, the City is focused on gaining greater service efficiencies and cost reductions. Following the FY17 re-organization, a review of expenditure impacts and a critical assessment of position levels in each area are being conducted. Current rate studies are also underway for the water and sewer utilities. Funding for public infrastructure needs (streets and sidewalks) and public safety remain a high priority.
The budget will be adopted through a multi-stage process that factors in the Municipal Cost Comparisons, City Commission priorities and input, public involvement and the status of the FY17 budget.
The next budget updates will be provided on June 14, July 19, September 13 and September 27. Information is always available through OpenGov and the City’s online budget, both accessible through Talgov.com.
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