Weekly Update to City Council

from the City Manager

July 11, 2008

Housing demo

There are currently 12 demo projects in the works – very exciting!

Golf Course

The rain each weekend has not been kind to the golf course budget, which may be down as much as $250,000 this year.  While they are able to meet their operating expenses, they will not be able to meet the debt payment.  This will come from the general fund.

Budget Retreat

We would like to have a budget retreat on August 12.  We will need time to have some serious discussions on services to cut.  As we noted during the Finance Committee, if we continue on our current course, the expenditure and revenue lines cross in 2012, further, we will be spending into our minimum general fund balance requirements in 2010.  I’m not pressing the panic button, but as we’ve done in years before, we will need some contingency planning.  We will need to have discussions on a programmatic basis in order to make significant impacts.   

We are not the only ones with financial issues:

Fairfax County, Virginia will buy foreclosed properties for affordable housing.

On its front page, the Washington Post (7/1, A1, Gardner) reports that Fairfax County, Va., "approved a landmark housing program...to buy foreclosed properties for middle-income families," and is seen as "one of the first communities in the country to tackle the nation's growing mortgage crisis while also addressing the region's demand for affordable housing.

Arizona cities and towns seen as struggling to maintain roads.

The Arizona Republic (7/6, Creno) reported that "[s]treets in cities and towns across Arizona are falling into disrepair because there is not enough money to keep them in shape." Eagar, Ariz., for example, "can't afford to fill the cracks in its streets."

Hamilton County, Ohio readies cuts to avoid "fiscal emergency."

Ohio's Business Courier of Cincinnati (7/10) reports that Christian Sigman, assistant Hamilton County administrator, is "telling all county departments except for the board of elections to prepare for budget cuts of just under six percent, or a combined $6.9 million" to "avoid a fiscal emergency."

Departmental Reports

Fire Division

At the request of the City Manager, the Chief, Assistant Chief and Buildings Deputy Chief toured all fire stations with the City Manager and the Facilities Maintenance Supervisor to get a first hand perspective on the interior and exterior condition of the stations and to create an action plan for improvement. 

Health Department

Congratulations go to Jackie Phillips, Director of Nursing, for graduating from Wright State University on June 14^th with a Masters of Public Health degree.

Meetings/Events/Functions attended this week:

City Managers’ Meeting with The Chamber of Commerce

Ohio Challenge Chairperson Meeting

Finance Committee meeting of Council

Upcoming Events

July 12 & 13    Native American Pow Wow, 2901 Carmody, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

July 15^th           City Council meeting, 5:30 p.m.

July 16^th           Broad Street Bash (3 Feet Deep) 5:30 p.m., Broad & Central

July 16 & 17    Paducah, KY Trip

July 17^th           Summer Concert – Bluegrass (Joe Mullins & The Radio Ramblers) – Smith Park

July 18 – 20^th   MidFirst Ohio Challenge