FYE 14 Budget prelim - City of Norman

Nationally, retail development is showing signs of recovery and growth and, given ourdependence on sales and use tax to fund General Fund operations, Norman wants toposition itself to participate in that growth. The International Council of ShoppingCenters estimates that over 52 million square feet of retail space will be constructed in2013, nearly twice as much as in 2012. Retail development is also showing signs ofrecovery and growth in Norman, with new retail developments currently underconstruction and projected to be constructed in 2013. Among these new-to-Norman retaildevelopments that may positively impact the City of Norman’s sales tax revenues in 2013are the following:Neighborhood Wal-Mart on West Rock Creek RoadSprout’s Grocery Store on Main StreetBuffalo Wild Wings on State Highway 9 EastAldi Grocery Store on West Main StreetCrest Fresh Food Market in University North ParkAshley Furniture Outlet in University North ParkDesigner Shoe Warehouse in University North ParkHome Goods Store in University North ParkIn an effort to meet growing demand and increased competition for retail business in ourarea, many cities are seeing positive results by funding positions that are specificallyfocused on increasing and improving retail development. These positions recruit newretail business to reduce vacancies in various part of the community and target identifiedbusinesses, assist in the expansion and redevelopment efforts of existing businesses,coordinate retail development efforts and implement strategic retail improvement plans.To this end, the proposed budget includes the new position of Retail MarketingCoordinator in the General Fund.Public Safety Sales Tax Fund Budget PreparationIn May, 2008, the citizens of Norman approved a temporary ½ percent Public SafetySales Tax Ordinance (Ordinance O-0708-32), which will be in effect from October 1,2008 through September 30, 2015. The Public Safety Sales Tax (PSST) will fund 41additional Police Department personnel and 30 additional Fire Department personnelover the seven-year life of the tax. As directed by the originally-adopted PSST StaffingPlan, two additional Police Officer positions will be added to the FYE 2014 budget.These two positions will bring the total number of PSST positions added since FYE 2009to 69 of the total scheduled additional personnel of 71 (according to the Staffing Planadopted with the PSST Ordinance, 2 additional Police Department positions will beadded in FYE 2015).The PSST Ordinance envisioned the construction and staffing of two additional firestations from proceeds of the tax. The first of these fire stations (Norman Fire Station #8on 36 th Avenue N.W.) was completed in May, 2011. The second of the fire stations (Fireviii