Bryan officials are looking for $1.4 million to cut from the city's budget.
City Manager David Watkins told the City Council at a Tuesday meeting that the cuts would come from a variety of areas, including holding vacant positions open, delaying the Texas Avenue redevelopment project and the opening of a downtown health clinic for city employees, and upgrading traffic signals to LED lights, which could save up to $50,000 a year.
Layoffs and tax increases are a last resort, he said.
The cutbacks come in addition to the $1.9 million that was cut from the budget last year.
Watkins said this is the earliest in the year that he could remember having to discuss the budget, but cities around the country are feeling the same type of pressure because of the economy.
"I think when you're in a really tight budget or recession, the cities that can go in and actually drill down into their operations and find savings will be the organizations that emerge stronger when the economy comes back," he said.
The city is projecting more than $41.2 million in revenues and more than $42.6 million in expenditures in 2010.
Watkins said every city department is looking for ways to cut costs.
Vacancies that will remain open for the time being include an environmental services position, a Municipal Court community service position, a part-time youth/neighborhood services position, a facilities maintenance position and two transportation positions.
The city will also be short a building inspector, traffic technician, aquatics supervisor and engineering intern.
Positions that become open will be reviewed to determine if they can be held open, Watkins said.
But, if the economy picks up, things could change, he said. With not as many homes being built, the city can handle one less building inspector, he said. But if home construction increases in the coming months, bringing the position back would be considered.
Other things the city plans to do to cut costs are reduce the number of color copies being made, look for energy-efficient vehicles and switch from BMW police motorcycles to Hondas, because Hondas are less expensive to maintain and operate.
Watkins said the city expects to see some savings and debt reduction from the new management of the LaSalle Hotel. Denver-based Magnolia Hotels took over the operation of the seven-story, city-owned downtown hotel in October.
City employees are also looking to cut costs by using the Internet to order supplies, distribute policies and advertise.
Watkins said it was unclear how much the changes would save the city or if it would be enough, but, he said, the cutbacks were certain to affect services.
"I don't think this will continue forever, but we have to budget like it could," he said.
RSS
Mobile
Daily Emails
Twitter
Facebook
