Suisun council to get midyear fiscal review Tuesday

SUISUN CITY — Last February, Suisun City faced an estimated $2 million shortfall after the elimination of the city’s redevelopment agency.

The City Council implemented a hiring freeze and a 5 percent pay reduction for all city employees.

At Tuesday’s council meeting, members will hear how these actions made a difference, as the 2012-13 midyear fiscal review is on the agenda.

The key words in the review are “operating costs are estimated to come within available revenues.”

That’s good news, as property taxes are estimated to be down about 6 percent. However, the report notes, “assessed values appear to be poised for an increase looking to next fiscal year after more than half-a-decade of declines.”

License and permits are estimated at $35,100, almost 8 percent higher than budgeted. The increase is attributed to the anticipated single-family residential starts at the Summerwood project along Railroad Avenue, the report said.

Personnel services, services and supplies and nonrecurring charges are all expected to be under budget.

Looking ahead to the 2013-14 fiscal year, a 5 percent increase in property tax revenue is based on the increase in sale prices of the approximately 100 homes that were sold in the city between Oct. 1 and Dec. 31, 2012.

A 3.5 percent increase in sales tax is anticipated for fiscal year 2013-14.

The report advises council members to continue the salary reduction, keep the hiring freeze and continue to analyze operational efficiencies when dealing with vacancies.

“If these strategies remain in place, a status quo budget for (fiscal year) 2013-14 is likely,” the review said.

On the horizon is Walmart. If it opens prior to July 1, 2014, $1.1 million annually will be available for city reserves.

The council will also be reminded of long-term maintenance issues such as dredging the marina, infrastructure maintenance and fire apparatus.

“The outlook for the upcoming fiscal year budget is cautiously better than it has been over the past few years,” the report said.

After the meeting, the council will adjourn to closed section to discuss anticipated litigation.

Reach Amy Maginnis-Honey at 427-6957 or amaginnis@dailyrepublic.net. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/amaginnisdr.

Amy Maginnis-Honey

Amy Maginnis-Honey joined the staff of the Daily Republic in 1980. She’ll tell you she was only 3 at the time. Over the past three decades she’s done a variety of jobs in the newsroom. Today, she covers arts and entertainment and writes for the Living and news pages.

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