SO WHAT DID YOU HEAR FROM RESIDENTS THERE? GULSTAN DART EDIE PEOPLE ASKED A LOT OF QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF TAX INCREASES IN THE FUTURE AND WHAT SERVICES MIGHT BE IMPACTED. I SPOKE TO THE CITY’S DIRECTOR OF FINANCE ABOUT WHAT STRATEGIES THE CITY WILL FOLLOW TO ADDRESS THE BUDGET DEFICIT. SACRAMENTO IS FACING A FINANCIAL CHALLENGE. A PROJECTED $66 MILLION BUDGET DEFICIT FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. WHAT’S HAPPENED IS WE’RE DOING MORE THINGS AND THE COST OF EVERYTHING HAS GONE UP AND THAT’S CAUSED OUR EXPENSES TO GO UP FASTER THAN OUR REVENUES. THE CITY’S DIRECTOR OF FINANCE, PETE COLLETTO, SAYS THE BUDGET HAS TO BE BALANCED BY THE END OF JUNE, CLOSING THE BUDGET DEFICIT. IT EITHER NEEDS TO BE DONE VIA A COMBINATION OF INCREASING REVENUES, WHICH COULD BE THINGS LIKE FEES AND OTHER COST THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT PAY OR REDUCING EXPENSES. DECISIONS THAT COULD DIRECTLY IMPACT RESIDENTS LIKE GINA RICHARDSON. ME BEING A SACRAMENTO RESIDENT, I WANT TO ENSURE THAT I’M UNDERSTANDING WHERE WE’RE AT AS A CITY, AS A COMMUNITY OF WHAT BUDGET CUTS WE NEED TO LOOK OUT FOR. ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, DOZENS OF RESIDENTS ATTENDED A MEETING AT THE NORTH NATOMAS COMMUNITY CENTER TO EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS, THEIR ORGANIZATIONS AND HOW TO LAYOFFS OF EXISTING STAFF FED INTO THAT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE LAYOFFS AND TAX INCREASES WERE SOME OF THE ISSUES MENTIONED, COLETTO TELLS US. THESE ARE DECISIONS THE CITY COUNCIL WILL HAVE TO MAKE IF COUNCIL DIRECTS US TO DEVELOP OR BRING A BALLOT MEASURE FOR THEIR CONSIDERATION, WE’LL DO THAT, BUT THAT’S REALLY UP TO THEM. FOR NOW. CITY STAFF WANTS TO HEAR MORE FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS BEFORE FINALIZING THEIR PLAN TO FILL THE BUDGET GAP, AND THERE WILL BE TWO MORE COMMUNITY MEETINGS ON MARCH 13TH, NINTH AND 14TH. RESIDENTS WHO CAN’T ATTEND CAN FILL OUT AN ONLINE SURVEY ON THE CITY’S WEBSITE.
Sacramento leaders ask public for input on addressing projected $66 million budget deficit
The city of Sacramento faces the financial challenge of a projected $66 million budget deficit for the upcoming year. Pete Coletto, the city’s director of finance, said the deficit is not due to a recession. He described it as a structural deficit, which means expenses going up faster than revenue. Inflation, insurance costs, new labor agreements and increased pension liability are some of the causes of the deficit. “Closing the budget needs to be done through a combination of increasing revenue, which could be things like fees and other costs that the public might pay, or reducing expenses,” Coletto said.City departments are currently developing cost-saving plans, Coletto said.To understand the community’s priorities, the city organized public meetings where people can ask questions.March 6 from 6 to 7 p.m. — North Natomas Community Center, 2631 New Market Dr., Sacramento, CA 95835March 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. — Pannell Meadowview Community Center, 2450 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, CA 95832March 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. — Clunie Community Center, 601 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95816 Residents also have until March 24 to participate in an online survey that is available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Hmong, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Dari. The proposed budget development will be in March and April, with budget hearings in May and final adoption by the City Council in June. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
The city of Sacramento faces the financial challenge of a projected $66 million budget deficit for the upcoming year.
Pete Coletto, the city’s director of finance, said the deficit is not due to a recession. He described it as a structural deficit, which means expenses going up faster than revenue.
Inflation, insurance costs, new labor agreements and increased pension liability are some of the causes of the deficit.
“Closing the budget needs to be done through a combination of increasing revenue, which could be things like fees and other costs that the public might pay, or reducing expenses,” Coletto said.
City departments are currently developing cost-saving plans, Coletto said.
To understand the community’s priorities, the city organized public meetings where people can ask questions.
- March 6 from 6 to 7 p.m. — North Natomas Community Center, 2631 New Market Dr., Sacramento, CA 95835
- March 13 from 6 to 7 p.m. — Pannell Meadowview Community Center, 2450 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, CA 95832
- March 14 from 6 to 7 p.m. — Clunie Community Center, 601 Alhambra Blvd., Sacramento, CA 95816
Residents also have until March 24 to participate in an online survey that is available in Spanish, Vietnamese, Hmong, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Dari.
The proposed budget development will be in March and April, with budget hearings in May and final adoption by the City Council in June.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app.
