TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Steve Powers, City Manager
FROM: Kacey Duncan, Deputy City Manager
SUBJECT:
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Formation of Sustainable Services Revenue Task Force and recommendation of task force appointments
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
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ISSUE:
Shall the City Council appoint the members listed in the Facts and Findings section to form the Sustainable Services Revenue Task Force?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Appoint the members listed in the Facts and Findings section to form the Sustainable Services Revenue Task Force.
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
Sustainable Services is a strategic plan goal defined as aligning City services and available resources and maintaining working capital for the future. For the past two consecutive fiscal years, the cost of some services, such as police response, library services, fire and emergency assistance, code enforcement, parks maintenance, and planning, has slightly exceeded available revenues, and General Fund working capital has decreased. While the unaudited working capital or fund balance remains above Council Policy, PERS and other cost factors are expected to widen the gap between the expenditures required to provide services and the revenues received to support services. Without additional sources of revenue, the City will be unable to sustain the services that it presently provides and maintain its fiscal health.
One of the actions under the Sustainable Services goal is to explore new, additional revenue sources and review potential adjustments to fees for General Fund services to close the gap between the cost of services to be provided and available current revenues to support those services. City Council unanimously supported a motion made at the time of budget adoption to direct the City Manager to prepare recommendations for City Council consideration to create a revenue task force. The recommendations are included in this report and the attached task force charter.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The attached Sustainable Services Revenue Task Force Charter outlines the recommended scope and composition of a Sustainable Services Revenue Task Force. The task force will gain an understanding of the City’s current and forecasted financial situation and be presented with possible options to sustain current City services supported by the General Fund. After reviewing revenue alternatives, the task force will recommend to the City Council new, additional revenue sources or changes to current fees that should be further explored. The City Council may choose to direct staff on the implementation of task force recommendations in order to balance future budgets and sustain services.
The task force will be made up of 14 members appointed by the City Council. Appointed members will assist with identifying revenues to sustain services that accomplish good governance; natural environment stewardship; a safe community; safe, reliable and efficient infrastructure; a strong and diverse economy; and a welcoming and livable community. The following individuals are recommended for appointment to align with these community priorities.
Good Governance: Mayor Chuck Bennett; Councilor Matt Ausec (Ward 5) and Councilor Steve McCoid (Ward 4) from the Sustainable Services Subcommittee; and past Budget Committee Chair Raquel Moore-Green
Natural Environment Stewardship: Ray Quisenberry, Salem 350 OR and Antionia Decker, Straub Environmental Center
Safe Community: Monica D. Pacheco, Salem Fire Foundation and Dan Wellert, Salem Police Foundation
Safe, Reliable and Efficient Infrastructure: Mike Erdmann, Home Builders Association of Marion and Polk Counties; Britni Davidson-Cruickshank, Salem Electric
Strong and Diverse Economy: Theresa Haskins, Salem Economic Development Corporation Executive Board and Dayna Jung, Latino Business Alliance Board Member
Welcoming and Livable Community: Kasia Quillinan, Salem Parks and Recreation Board Chair and Jesse Gasper, Oregon Marshallese Community
Under the proposed schedule, the Sustainable Services Task Force will begin its work on October 15 and meet in four, facilitated sessions prior to recommending options for the City Council to consider for the future alignment of revenues and expenditures. The timing of the task force’s work is intended to flow into the setting of the City Council’s 2019 Policy Agenda. Staff support, including research, agenda packet preparation, meeting scheduling and record keeping will be provided by the Budget, Finance and Purchasing Division of the City Manager’s Office.
Kacey Duncan
Deputy City Manager
Attachments:
1. Sustainable Services Revenue Task Force Charter