Mayor David Pierce this week released a 1994 general fund budget proposal that calls for hiring 11 police officers and 12 firefighters, while eliminating 10 positions and downgrading three others in six departments.
General fund spending for 1994 would rise to $41.9 million, a $3.2 million increase over 1993. The entire increase results from wage increases, which alone total $3.6 million for 640 employees, and the additional hiring of fire and safety personnel.
Not only would the city hire 11 officers, but it also would civilianize two administrative positions and make community service officers of six cadets, so they can handle lesser police duties such as traffic control.
The additional personnel costs would be partially offset by the other personnel reductions and a 2 percent reduction in the cost for materials, services and supplies, to $8.6 million, and a 16 percent reduction in capital expenditures, to $1.1 million.
Personnel costs account for nearly 77 percent of the general fund budget proposal for 1994. About 63 percent of the budget would go to spending for police and fire salaries and benefits.
Personnel costs rose from $21.5 million in 1990 to a proposed $32.2 million in 1994. In 1990, such spending accounted for 66 percent of the budget, compared with the proposed 77 percent in 1994.
That leaves very little room for discretional spending, said Scott McCleary, Pierce’s top aide.
Much of the funding for the general fund budget would come from the 1994 tax levy, which will total $22.3 million, a 7.5 percent increase from 1993. The typical homeowner, however, will see an increase in his city property tax of about 3 percent from 1993 to 1994.
The general fund budget is essentially an accounting of the city’s day-to-day operating expenses, although it does not include the Water and Sewer Department, the Motor Vehicle Department, the public library, the Aurora Municipal Airport, or major infrastructure projects funded with bonds.
The overall budget usually totals about $100 million. Pierce will release the entire budget proposal early next year.
The City Council has until the end of March to consider his proposal, possibly modify it and take a vote.