AgdaPkt 2020-10-26 Joint SA PFA - Laserfiche WebLink

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From: To: Council -Diane Howard Cc: GRP -City Council Subject: Re: New budget Date: Friday, October 23, 2020 3:58:13 PM Hi Diane, Thank you for your quick response. My only issue is why do you have to vote to approve the budget on Monday.Is there a legal issue that it has to be voted then? Seems like waiting an additional 2 weeks til the next council meeting so Redwood City residents have time to understand the changes would be helpful. Thanks again, Sue Nix On Fri, Oct 23, 2020 at 3:52 PM Council -Diane Howard <DHoward(gredwoodcitv.or�> wrote: Dear Sue, Thank you so much for your email regarding the Revised Budget that the City Council will consider on Monday, October 26. Your email has been shared with both our City Council and Staff, and your comments will be included as Public Comment for this topic. I wanted to share some context for the Revised Budget, and encourage you to review the staff report and Revised Budget. Because of the COVID-19-related recession, City operating revenues are expected to drop 8.1% or $13.1 million compared to FY 2019-20. We expect it will take at least five years for revenue to return to FY 2019-20 levels. When reduced revenues are combined with known cost increases to fund pension and retiree health obligations, the City must reduce operating costs and seek new revenues. Without action, we would face annual deficits of $7-13 million per year for the foreseeable future. We appreciate voter support for Measure RR in 2018; without it, the City would face even greater deficits. The Revised Budget reduces expenditures in all City departments, including $4.9 million in funding for public safety services (5-6% of Fire and Police Department expenditures). Total reductions are $7.7 million.