Fort Collins receiving 2008-09 budget feedback online

Fort Collins has placed its budget priorities online so that city residents can weigh in on whether they agree.

The city manager's 2008-2009 recommended budget can be viewed at fcgov.com/budget. An interactive budget tool asks for input according to the city's key result areas: cultural and recreational opportunities, economic health, environmental health, high-performing city government, neighborhood livability, safe community and transportation. Web site visitors have an opportunity to comment on the funding levels of each result area as well as specific funded and unfunded services.

Feedback from the online budget tool and a Sept. 17 budget forum will be shared with city council members as they work toward adopting the new budget.

A public hearing on the budget is set for Oct. 2 at the city council's regularly scheduled meeting. The public is also invited to comment when city council considers the budget on first reading, Oct. 16, and for final adoption on Nov. 20. All formal public hearings will be in city council chambers, 300 LaPorte Ave. Council meetings begin at 6 p.m.

Highlights of the city budget include:

• The total budget for all city funds is $568 million for 2008 and $536 million for 2009. A major one-time expense in 2008 for the Mason Corridor Project makes that budget higher than the following year.
• The budget includes no tax increase, but it does include an increase in wastewater fees and electric utility fees.
• The recommended budget includes no reductions in force. Several vacant positions have been eliminated, however.
• Sales and use tax is projected to increase by 2.03 percent in 2008 and 2.63 percent in 2009.
• Minor inflation-oriented fee adjustments are included for programs such as recreation.
• Wastewater rates will increase 12 percent in 2008 and 11 percent in 2009. Based on a winter quarter average of 5,200 gallons, a customer's bill will increase $2.37 in 2008 and $2.33 in 2009. The rate increases are necessary to fund the unanticipated expense of replacing the trickling filters at the Mulberry Wastewater Plant.
• Electric rates are projected to increase 2.3 percent to 2.7 percent in response to increases from Platte River Power Authority and ongoing operation increases within Light and Power. The monthly electric bill for a typical residential customer will increase about 97 cents in 2008.

About $3 million in general fund reserves is used to balance the recommended budget. In his budget overview, City Manager Darin Atteberry said staff expects that sales tax revenues will improve significantly in 2010 as a result of new retail development under construction. To bridge the gap between current and anticipated revenue, the budget uses reserves to eliminate the need to reduce services in the short term, he explained.

City council members have already endorsed the use of reserves based on those revenue assumptions, Atteberry noted.

Three new facilities are opening this year: the police services building, the Northside Aztlan Community Center and Spring Canyon Community Park. While the capital funds for these projects were provided through debt financing and voter-approved capital programs, the resources to operate and maintain them must be provided through existing general fund sources, Atteberry said.

City council work sessions are scheduled for Oct. 9 and 23.