2013-2014 budget - City of Syracuse

A tabular comparison of the 2012-13 and 2013-14 School budgets
is displayed on page 279 of the budget.
Conclusion:
Slow revenue growth and increasing employee benefit costs have
created an environment of continued challenges.
In order to continue to serve those who live, work and learn in the City
of Syracuse, we must practice sound and disciplined fiscal decisionmaking
to manage and navigate our long term fiscal crisis. While
both the City and School District will be able to fill structural budget
gaps in 2013-2014 through the use of reserves, these remedies are
not sustainable in the long-term. Both the City and the School District
are facing large budget gap projections in the out years and the
reserves that we are using today will vanish. We are in the midst of
fundamental, structural and unavoidable forces which will continue to
demand staunch fiscal discipline. With this budget, we are striving
towards a new era of governing. Focused on smarter solutions,
creative innovation, and leading the city in a new direction, this budget
is an important step towards securing our future. Syracuse is a city on
the move and that is progress we cannot afford to stop. This budget,
compiled in the face of challenge and adversity, will give us the ability
to keep the city of Syracuse on the right financial path. Together, we
can create a twenty first century city that is financially sound and
meets the needs of its people.
As you begin your schedule of committee meetings and deliberations, I
pledge my full cooperation, and that of my staff, to assist in your review.
Sincerely,
Stephanie A. Miner
Mayor
Subsequent Events:
The Common Council approved nineteen amendments to the
Mayor’s budget at the May 8, 2013 meeting. The amendments
included the following:
- Increased the Fire Department’s salaries by $1,600,000 to
$21,823,033.
- Decreased the Department of Planning & Sustainability, line
01.12140.0.415 by $284,206 to $77,283.
- Decreased funding to the Land Bank by $500,000 to
$1,500,000.
- Increased Prior Years’ Tax Collection by $750,000 to
$4,588,000.
- Increased Sale of Real Property by $100,000 to $165,000.
- Increased Sales Tax by $500,000 to $79,649,000.
- Increased Mortgage Tax by $200,000 to $1,100,000.
- Increased Licenses by $15,600 to $115,600.
- Decreased Printing and Advertising by $53,703 to $216,297.
- Increased Downtown Special Assessment District revenue by
$149,100 to $999,100.
- Increased the City Clerk’s temporary services by $15,600 to
$15,600.
- Increased the Audit Department’s salaries by $37,909 to
$173,759.
- Increased Say Yes to Education by $500,000 to $1,500,000.
- Increased Downtown Special Assessment District expense by
$149,100 to $999,100.
- Decreased Syracuse City School District Fund Surplus –
Account #9110.3010 by $1,877,858 to $8,000,000.
- Decrease Syracuse City School District State Aid Chapter 1 –
Account #3101.3260 by $1,670,200 to $28,746,182.
- Increased Syracuse City School District Consolidated
Operating Aid – Account #3101.3260 by $1,780,726 to
$213,999,260.
- Decreased the total Syracuse City School District expenditures
by $1,767,332 to $365,419,038.
- Increased Special Object of Expense – Downtown Senior
Center by $250,000 to $250,000