2009 Budget Reduction

The City of Fort Collins is facing revenue shortages in three major areas:

• Transportation - decreases in federal, state, and local funds have left us with a $4.7 million shortfall
• Development-Related Revenue - decreases in development-related fees and taxes have created a $1 million shortfall
• Sales and Use Tax Collections - Slumping sales and use tax collections have created an additional $2 million shortfall in the City’s General Fund.

Service Reductions
The City is taking immediate steps to reduce costs to address these revenue shortfalls.  We've frozen nearly all vacant positions, except public safety, and the majority of those positions will be eliminated in the 2010/2011 budget. Residents will notice some reduction in service levels. For example:

• Residential street and bike lane sweeping will be reduced to twice a year.
• The pavement maintenance program (patching, pothole repair, etc.) is being reduced by approximately 5%.
• The City will no longer grade and maintain public alleys.
• Code inspections related to neighborhood standards will take longer to review and correct.
• Plan review for building permits and response to building record requests will be extended 1-2 weeks.
• Reduce promotion of air quality programs such as diesel emissions, Climate Challenge and ozone awareness
• Delay City Park Shelter renovation and other parks projects
• Delay replacement of Cable 14 cameras
• Eliminate July 4 entertainment at City Park (except fireworks which are sponsored by PVHS)
• Scale back community sponsorships
• Delay repairs/upgrades to restrooms at Oak Street Parking Lot
• Decrease funding for hourly employees and overtime
• Overall reductions in office expenses, advertising, travel and training.