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From: Suzanne Schlesinger To: Council -Diane Howard Cc: GRP -City Council Subject: Re: Please don't close fire station 9 Date: Tuesday, October 27, 2020 9:37:09 PM Thanks for the reconsideration and change in plan. On Oct 23, 2020, at 12:01 PM, Council -Diane Howard <DHoward@redwoodcity.org> wrote: Dear. Ms. Schlesinger, 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. The reductions do not lay off any employees; they selectively maintain existing staff vacancies while we work with employees to assess opportunities to reduce costs and modify service delivery approaches. We are hopeful that this work will move quickly. Thank you for reaching out to the City Council and may you and your family be healthy and safe. In Community Spirit, Diane Howard