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RustyBradshaw
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Posted: Mon May 18th, 2009 11:20 pm |
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Editor’s note: Copied below is a story from the Sun City West Independent. You can post your opinions by clicking on “Reply.”
Sun City West officials prepare bare bones budget
Fire administrators, staff
react to sluggish economy
By Julie Anne Maurer
Independent Newspapers
The Sun City West Fire District is reacting to tough economic times in its proposed 2009-10 budget, which begins July 1.
“The Fire District has an important responsibility to its citizens to carefully account for public funds, to manage its finances wisely, and to plan for the adequate funding of services desired by the public,” wrote Accounting Supervisor Coaleen Bowen in a presentation on the budget. “In these times of economic uncertainty, and limited or negative growth in the district’s tax base, the district needs to ensure that it is capable of adequately funding and providing those core services desired by the community.”
Officials noted the 2009 median home value in Sun City West was $173,500, according to the Maricopa County Assessor’s Office. That would equal a 15.2 percent decreased from 2008, when the median value was $204,500.
“The fire district cannot and will not ignore the fact that tough financial times are being experienced by many district property owners and tougher times could also be on the horizon,” Ms. Bowen stated. “The current weakness in the overall economy presented a considerable challenge in developing the FY 2009/2010 budget.”
Besides the drop in home valuations, the district also faced a decline in permit revenue, interest earning projections, accompanied by an increase in health insurance, state retirement, liability insurance, utilities and EMS supplies.
The board directed district staffers to create a “bare bones” budget, and they cut in different areas they could.
“(The budget) presents a responsible financial plan that enables the district to continue to deliver its vital services at present service levels but eliminates most ‘nice to haves in exchange for ‘have to haves,’” Ms. Bowen stated. “These reductions were not applied on an across-the board basis. Instead, district management requested reductions focused on preserving the fire district’s core services while reducing or eliminating non-essential funding wherever possible.”
The proposed budget has decreases in workers compensation insurance, accounting and payroll processing, custodial services, cable television services and district operational supplies.
Other decreases are proposed in protective equipment, EMS equipment, radio repair and training and development.
The budget proposal states a majority of the 126 expense-related line items within the budget have been eliminated, reduced or held, and expenses for the upcoming year have been reduced by about 9 percent.
“Given the state of the economy, district personnel did not request a cost of living increase or any additional benefit adjustments for the first time since the district began operating with its own employees in 1994,” Ms. Bowen’s budget proposal states.”
What could increase, however, is the fire district’s tax rate for the fiscal year. Officials propose a 13 percent rate increase.
“However, with the declining property values, the average residential property owner within the district should realize a roughly 4 percent reduction in their FY 2009/2010 fire district taxes,” Ms. Bowen stated.
This year, residents paid a rate of $1.7574 for the district, comparable to $2.1681 in Sun City.
The proposed budget is about $11.1 million, down from $12.2 million the previous year.
The proposed budget documents are available online at http://www.scwfire.org, at the RH Johnson Library, 13801 W. Meeker Blvd., and at the Fire District’s administrative offices, 18818 N. Spanish Garden Drive.
“The budget will be open for review and comment from May 19 through the June 23 board workshop,” said Holli Sandeen, spokeswoman for the district. “The June 23 meeting is open to the public for the board to hear any last comments from the community; the board will have their last review and approve the budget at that meeting.”
A final budget review is slated for 9 a.m. Thursday, June 18, and the board is slated to approve it at its 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 23 meeting.
All meetings will be held in the district administrative office.
Post comments in the Public Issues Forum at http://www.newszap.com. News Editor Julie Anne Maurer can be reached at jmaurer@newszap.com or 445-2805.
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