Mayor Proposes City's Biennial Budget
FY 2009-2010 and FY 2010-2011 Mayor Dwight C. Jones presented the 2009/10-2010/11 fiscal budgets to City Council today. The Fiscal Year 2009-2010 general fund budget is proposed to be $629.6 million, a decrease of $28.5 million (4.3%) from the current fiscal year. Fiscal Year 2010-2011 projects a budget of $636.5 million, an increase from the prior year of about $7 million (1%). The second year reflects slight growth, but is still a decrease from the current FY 2008-2009 budget plan. “Our nation is in the midst of the worst economic downturn in some 75 years. In these difficult financial times even tougher choices and belt tightening is called for,” said the Mayor. “Our theme for the next two years will be ‘Making Efficient Decisions in Challenging Economic Times.’ The fiscal plan we are presenting represents a comprehensive spending plan in line with current revenue projections and we will not be dipping into the Rainy Day Fund in the proposed budget. "The good news is that this...