07-10-2008, 03:05 PM
Hollywood begins work on city budget cuts totaling $14 million
$14 million less will bring cuts in jobs, services
By Ihosvani Rodriguez | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
9:35 PM EDT, July 9, 2008
Hollywood - City Manager Cameron Benson has a long resume that includes playing defense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But nowhere does it say he's ever been a miracle worker.
On Wednesday, Benson and his team of budget crunchers stopped just short of saying only a miracle will change a grim financial outlook for the city as it faces a $14.2 million shortfall next fiscal year.
The money problems, which Benson said stem mostly from voter-backed tax relief measures, could mean up to 81 city workers being laid off and citywide cuts to services and programs next year. That includes layoffs for at least 21 firefighters and 28 police officers and slashing a large number of park programs and citizen services.
"As much as we would like to save jobs, and save the things we love, we have to respond to the governor, the Legislature and the public," Benson told commissioners and a packed City Hall at the first of several budget workshops before commissioners adopt the final version in September.
Benson unveiled the working draft of next year's proposed $325 million budget, reflecting a $1.9 million drop from last year.
He presented three options to make ends meet, all including layoffs and service cuts.
Last year's tax reform measures alone amounted to a $4.7 million loss for the city.
The city grew with new construction, but the gains were offset by a significant loss in property values. The Broward County Property Appraiser's Office estimates a 5 percent, or about $742 million, decline.
On Wednesday directors from nearly every city department took turns adding to a growing list of culprits. The list included foreclosures, a slumping real estate market, higher operating costs and even a significant drop in parking tickets.
"Whether or not you want to call it a looming financial crisis, that may be the case," Merciano Lewis, the city's assistant budget director, told commissioners.
The first likely scenario would include eliminating 112 positions, 81 of which are currently filled by employees.
The job cuts would create about $8.3 million in savings. Also, there would be a reduction in park programs, longer waits for building permits and fewer repairs to streets, medians and public property.
A second option would privatize sanitation services, such as garbage pick-up, for a savings of up to $3 million.
That plan would eliminate 51 employees with public works, and 25 from other departments. Other services would also be scaled back, but not as severely, Benson said.
A third option would keep the sanitation department intact, but increase the sanitation fees for restaurants and businesses. Citywide-services would also be affected.
City staffers did not specify the city services affected by each of the three scenarios.
Ihosvani Rodriguez can be reached at ijrodriguez@sun- sentinel.com or 954-385-7908 .
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$14 million less will bring cuts in jobs, services
By Ihosvani Rodriguez | South Florida Sun-Sentinel
9:35 PM EDT, July 9, 2008
Hollywood - City Manager Cameron Benson has a long resume that includes playing defense for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But nowhere does it say he's ever been a miracle worker.
On Wednesday, Benson and his team of budget crunchers stopped just short of saying only a miracle will change a grim financial outlook for the city as it faces a $14.2 million shortfall next fiscal year.
The money problems, which Benson said stem mostly from voter-backed tax relief measures, could mean up to 81 city workers being laid off and citywide cuts to services and programs next year. That includes layoffs for at least 21 firefighters and 28 police officers and slashing a large number of park programs and citizen services.
"As much as we would like to save jobs, and save the things we love, we have to respond to the governor, the Legislature and the public," Benson told commissioners and a packed City Hall at the first of several budget workshops before commissioners adopt the final version in September.
Benson unveiled the working draft of next year's proposed $325 million budget, reflecting a $1.9 million drop from last year.
He presented three options to make ends meet, all including layoffs and service cuts.
Last year's tax reform measures alone amounted to a $4.7 million loss for the city.
The city grew with new construction, but the gains were offset by a significant loss in property values. The Broward County Property Appraiser's Office estimates a 5 percent, or about $742 million, decline.
On Wednesday directors from nearly every city department took turns adding to a growing list of culprits. The list included foreclosures, a slumping real estate market, higher operating costs and even a significant drop in parking tickets.
"Whether or not you want to call it a looming financial crisis, that may be the case," Merciano Lewis, the city's assistant budget director, told commissioners.
The first likely scenario would include eliminating 112 positions, 81 of which are currently filled by employees.
The job cuts would create about $8.3 million in savings. Also, there would be a reduction in park programs, longer waits for building permits and fewer repairs to streets, medians and public property.
A second option would privatize sanitation services, such as garbage pick-up, for a savings of up to $3 million.
That plan would eliminate 51 employees with public works, and 25 from other departments. Other services would also be scaled back, but not as severely, Benson said.
A third option would keep the sanitation department intact, but increase the sanitation fees for restaurants and businesses. Citywide-services would also be affected.
City staffers did not specify the city services affected by each of the three scenarios.
Ihosvani Rodriguez can be reached at ijrodriguez@sun- sentinel.com or 954-385-7908 .
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