Proposed Fiscal Year 2011 - 12 Budget

The proposed Fiscal Year 2011 - 12 Budget was presented to the CIty Council and the public in a public hearing on June 7, 2011.  The City Council will consider approval of the budget at its meeting on June 21, 2011.  State law requires that the City adopt a balanced budget by June 30th.

The development of the budget was quite difficult this year.  It's no surprise that the City, along with just about everyone else, is struggling in these difficult financial times.  In order to achieve a balanced budget and try to minimize service reductions to the public, the City and its employees sought ways where personnel costs could be reduced.  I am happy to report that we have reached tentative agreements with all of our employee groups and final approvals will be considered by the City Council on June 21st.

The change that will be most noticeable to the public will be the reduction of the City's non-public safety staff from a 40 hour to a 36 hour work week.  That will place all employees on a 4 day, 9 hour work week.  City Hall, the Fire Station (Fire Admin and Building Inspection) and the Corporation Yard will be closed every Friday starting in July.

Undoubtedly, this will cause some difficulties initially as the public becomes accustomed to the change.  It will also change some of our maintenance activities.  Since this will be new for us, we ask for your patience as we reprogram work and figure out the best ways to deliver services in this reduced schedule.

Our goal remains the same to provide the citizens of Sebastopol with the highest possible level of public service and facilities within our staffing and financial capabilities.  One way to help us do that is do as much of your shopping here in the City.  Items you purchase here, including gasoline, directly assist us by providing sales tax revenues.  Sales tax makes up about one quarter of our general fund revenues.  We have seen a disturbing trend where our revenues trended downward during the last six months of 2010 while most other nearby cities and the county itself saw increases.  Making we support ourselves with our buying power is the one thing every citizen of the city can do to improve our situation.