Agenda - 02-11-2010 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2) FY 2010-11 Budget Activity to Date • Recommended Board Action -The County Manager recommends the Board receive information regarding staff activity to-date in preparing for the upcoming FY2010-11 budget. The FY2010-11 Budget process will present another year of challenges. On the revenue side, there has been little or no growth in the County's tax base this fiscal year. Additionally, we do not anticipate any substantial growth in the tax base for next fiscal year. The normal growth in the real property valuation will be offset by decreases in motor vehicle valuations, foreclosures and bankruptcies. Additionally, the Commissioners have recently expressed a continued desire to avoid a tax rate increase next fiscal year. In regards to expenditures, departments have continued to experience an increase in demands for services due to the effects of the current economic recession, such as job losses, and reductions in household income for many of our residents. These increased requests for the services of the County have placed increased demands on the funding and costs of our departments. We need to maintain fiscal responsibility due to the uncertainty of future Federal, State and local revenues. Going forward into the new fiscal year, the outlook is promising and improving, but we need to continue with caution and fiscal restraint. The continued forecast of limited revenues mean the County must critically examine and prioritize services offered. Our counterparts throughout the state continue with similar approaches to monitor their current budgets while planning their FY2010- 11 budgets. a) County Manager FY2010-11 Budget Preparation Directions to Departments In order to meet the Board's FY2010-11 anticipated budget goals and priorities, it will be necessary to decrease current year spending levels. Because of this, the County Manager has provided the following direction to department directors as they prepare their FY 2010-11 budget requests. Departments should submit FY2010-11 budget requests reflecting core services only. The dollar amount or potential percentage decreases will be determined later in the budget process. Department Directors are expected to look critically at their departments and propose reductions in, and in some instances elimination of, non-mandated services and activities. Additionally, the County Manager expects departments to look at opportunities to outsource services to local agencies that are duplicated by the County. 3