May 26, 2015
Jared S. Littmann
Alderman, Ward 5, Annapolis

912 Forest Drive 
(office at K&B True Value)
410-268-3939



The City Council is having a special meeting today, Thursday, May 26, 2016, at 3 p.m. in Council chambers to discuss the mayor's proposed budget, and specifically ,amendments offered by Council members and committees.

Below I offer a summary of my recommendations, and here is a link to the full detail.

I ask you to consider my amendments, and those of my colleagues, and let us know what you support.

The next City Council meeting is on June 13. You can speak publicly during the public hearing to share your thoughts, or do so in advance by email, phone, or in person. The Council will likely begin deliberations on the operating and capital budgets that night.

Background

You may know that, in addition to owning K&B True Value and my position as city alderman, I have a third job as a corporate Director for the True Value Company (TVC). The TVC is owned by its 4,500 retailer members, of which I am one of five members who speak for all of the retailers. As a corporate director, it is my responsibility to maximize value for all shareholders, without regard to our personal best interests, even if our decisions actually work against our personal interests. I take that responsibility seriously, and I apply the same approach to the City's budgets and oversight of your money and taxes that you pay.

You are the City's shareholders, and I look for expenses that can be trimmed or cut without significant negative impact on the City's service to you. I have a clear understanding that some of the decisions that we make have a human element in the form of City employees, and I do not take that lightly. However, it is my responsibility, and the responsibility of my colleagues, to serve the greater good and
look for enhancements when there is a demand for better service. 
My Recommendations

I invite you to review my proposed amendments to the FY2017 Operating Budget, which you can find here. You'll note that I recommend two enhancements (additions), totaling $210,000:
  1. Two additional foot patrol police officers. There have been 99 violent crimes in 2016 so far, which is a 60% increase from last year, and the highest total since 2008 (year to date). Having additional police officers to deploy in high-crime areas will provide real and perceived benefits to City residents.
     
  2. One Spanish Services Coordinator. Currently, despite a federal and state requirement to ensure that government services are available to large groups of non-English speaking residents, the City does not do a very good job of meeting this need. This Coordinator would work with all City departments to ensure that services are available to Spanish speakers.
You'll also note that I recommend cuts totaling $873,700, primarily by reducing head count by seven (including two vacancies) and the employee privilege of take-home vehicles.

Those recommendations are not easy to make; those jobs are important to the individuals in those positions and their staff, and each individual is a good person that does his or her best on behalf of the City. In addition, the take-home vehicles are a benefit that are highly valued by the employees who have them, so taking them away may make their jobs less attractive and risk employee flight. However, and this is the key issue, in an era when most residents are not willing to pay more taxes and they want essential city services improved, I believe these costs are responsible and prudent and can be made without sacrificing the provision of core City services.

Combining the enhancements and savings, these amendments would provide a net savings of $663,700, of which I propose a reduction in your real property taxes totaling $400,000 and the remainder should be saved. In summary, I am proposing amendments to the operating budget that would:
  • Improve core services,
  • Reduce real property taxes, and
  • Add more money to savings
  • At the expense of cutting overhead costs.
In addition, you'll see a list of initiatives that would be prudent to consider before the next budget cycle begins.
 
What do you think?
  
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912 Forest Dr., Annapolis, MD