by Judith Gilleland, Middletown City Manager
Staff met today to review scenarios for the 2011 and 2012 budget.
Given the state’s reduction in funding for cities, we may need to make significant changes yet this year to meet our budgetary goals. We plan to provide at least a couple of scenarios and choices for City Council for the May 5 meeting.
Possibilities include but are not limited to: pay reductions, service reductions, personnel reductions, sale of assets, privatization, regionalization, increasing revenue.
Though I have not heard this directly from our state officials, the word on the street is that it will be very difficult to make changes in the state budget. There is an $8 Billion shortfall that they are addressing with this budget and there are no easy alternatives.