Explanation
By this joint resolution, the Mayor and City Council express their support of the cost reductions and efficiencies/reforms in furtherance of recommendations of the Economic Advisory Committee.
Title
To express support for the Reform and Efficiency Action Plan contained within this Resolution that will lead to cost savings and a continued high delivery of services, specifically in the areas of 1) Employee Benefits; 2) Safety Reforms; 3) Efficient Management & Using Technology; and 4) Partnerships, and to declare an emergency.
Body
WHEREAS, since the national economic recession in 2001 the City of Columbus has consistently been required to reduce its general fund budgets below continuation funding largely as a result of income tax revenues not growing at the rates experienced during the preceding 25 years, with the result that the 2009 budget is $155 million below continuation funding from 2001 levels; and
WHEREAS, in an effort to further control spending, the City of Columbus has cut spending below even these reduced budgets by nearly $67 million over this period of time; and
WHEREAS, these reductions have included such things as a 30% reduction in civilian employees and an increase from 3% to 9% in the employee share of health benefit costs, yet general fund revenues remain insufficient to fund essential public safety and neighborhood services; and
WHEREAS, even with these dramatic steps to reduce expenditures while maintaining the highest possible level of services for our residents, the City of Columbus - along with our state and nation - is now experiencing what is being called the worst economic recession in over sixty years, severely jeopardizing City service delivery and neighborhood infrastructure levels that our residents depend on; and
WHEREAS, in response to this, the City of Columbus commissioned the Economic Advisory Committee in March 2008 to analyze the financial condition of the City's general fund;...
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