City Of Westminster Budget Amendment September 28, 2009

CITY OF WESTMINSTER
5 6 West Main Street
Westminster, MD 21157

Phone 410-848-9000
Fax 410-857-7476

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Marge Wolf

September 28, 2009 Phone: 410-848-9000

CITY OF WESTMINSTER BUDGET AMENDMENT

Westminster, MD - "We have no choice but to reduce our current FY2010 budget," Mayor Kevin R. Utz explained as he presented an amendment to the City of Westminster budget that cut over $800,000 in projected state revenues.

"The State of Maryland reduced the Highway User Revenues from $747,580 to $74,758 and Police Aid from a budgeted $400,000 to $254,826."

Among the cuts approved by the Common Council were cancellations of the paving contract, technology purchases and a police vehicle which totaled $267,950 in capital expenditures; diversion of the $100,000 contingency reserve to operating accounts; conversion of $215,000 of Union Street property proceeds to operating accounts; reduction of departmental operating budgets by $155,086; revision of the take home vehicle policy to institute a partial employee payback of costs by $15,768; and captured $65,000 in savings from reduced tipping fees.

"These amendments, totaling $818,804 will balance our budget through June 30, 2010, unless there are additional cuts passed by the State," continued Mayor Utz, "The real crisis will come when we lose the remaining $329,676 in these state revenues which may come as early as January and certainly by July 1, 2010."

Dr. Robert Wack, Chairman of the Finance Committee, recapped the number of adjustments made by the Common Council to balance the budget over the past several years.

"These actions have included: Elimination of five positions, increase of employee contributions to health care benefits, revision of the Retiree Health Care Benefit program, elimination of merit increases for all staff, implementation of a health reimbursement agreement health care plan in lieu of the former preferred provider plan and rebate of the $3.5M bond secured to undertake a major pavement milling and overlay program. With the current hiring freeze and the actions outlined by the Mayor, we have managed to avoid painful furloughs, staff layoffs or elimination of services as well as property tax increases. It may not be possible to avoid those discussions if future revenue reductions are imposed by the State or occur because of the current economic recession. We need to be developing contingency plans to respond to those changes as they occur.”

# # #

The City of Westminster Administration Department is located at 56 West Main Street. This department oversees all of the departments in the General Government and is the central location for the City. For more information, call 410-848-9000 or visit wmv.westminstermd.gov.

20090928 cow bud amend 1 MD State Budget, Westminster Finance Budget, Westminster Finance Budget 2009 2010, Westminster Press Release

Here you can read about the City of Westminster in previous articles that have been published.

http://www.westgov.com/news/news_main.html

Nonprofits benefit from FallFest, Carroll County Times
FallFest to set aside time for children with special needs, Carroll County Times
September 20, 2009 Proclaimed National Neighborhood Day, Press Release
Westminster passes public decency acts, Carroll County Times
Maryland budget reductions mean 6% cuts to Westminster, Carroll County Times
Westminster City discusses budget cuts, Press Release
Toilet Rebate Program a success, Carroll County Times
Water project earns stimulus grant money, Carroll County Times
Westminster buildings to undergo energy audits, Carroll County Times
City linking to crime website, Carroll County Times
Electronics recycling program set to launch, Carroll County Times
Red-light cameras awaiting final OK, Carroll County Times
Recreation and Parks News, Press Release
Toilet Rebate Program, Press Release
Westminster Comprehensive Plan maps out water future, Carroll County Times
Westminster housing variety highlighted, Carroll County Times
Westminster OKs Streetscape bid, Carroll County Times
Plan takes look at future of Westminster water woes, Advocate
Cutting a ribbon on history at the Westminster Water Treatment Plant, Westminster Eagle
Shop with a Cop, Carroll County Times
Building to undergo reconstruction, Advocate
Westminster Clock Tower restoration, Carroll County Times
Westminster: City likes what it sees in Carroll County's Comprehensive Plan, Carroll County Times
City promoting water conservation through grants, Advocate
Upgrade could be done by winter, Carroll County Times

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Westminster City Discusses Budget Cuts

Westminster City Discusses Budget Cuts – September 18, 2009

CITY OF WESTMINSTER
56 West Main Street
Westminster, MD 21158
Phone 410-848-9000
Fax 410-857-7476

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 18, 2009
http://www.westgov.com/news/documents/CityofWestminsterpressrelease--BudgetCuts.pdf

Contact: Marge Wolf
Phone: 410-848-9000

WESTMINSTER CITY DISCUSSES BUDGET CUTS

Westminster, MD -“These are challenging financial times for municipal governments,” stated city of Westminster mayor, Kevin Utz. “We are two months into the 2009 fiscal year and are now faced with a reduction of over $800,000 in our state revenue projections. A bad financial picture just got worse.”

The State Board of Public Works approved a package of budget cuts last week that included a 90% reduction in Highway User Revenues to local jurisdictions. The City had budgeted $747,850 and will instead be receiving $74,785. In addition, they reduced the State Aid to Police funding from $392,040 to $254,826, a reduction of 35%.

“In a General Fund with $13Million in total revenues, this is a 6% cut. With a cut of this magnitude we are looking at a variety of options to bring our budget into balance,” continued Mayor Utz, “including eliminating services or programs, cancelling capital projects and equipment purchases, examining the take home vehicle program, freezing employee salaries and benefits—everything is on the table for discussion.

A hiring freeze has already been implemented and we do not expect to fill any vacant positions. No new projects or programs beyond those already funded will be implemented.

Unfortunately, we expect that further cuts will be needed after the revenues are projected again in December and FY2011 looks to be even bleaker. I will be working with state, county, and municipal government partners, as well as the Maryland Municipal League to seek solutions to this problem.”

For the past two fiscal years, the financial picture has been deteriorating for local governments, with reductions in revenues from the housing sector, transportation, and property tax assessments to substantial increases in utility costs, gasoline costs, and health care. Unfortunately, at the municipal level, government provides basic quality of life services—and when these services are reduced, citizens suffer.

To cope with the reduced revenues and increased costs, the City of Westminster instituted staff lay-offs, postponed the street repaving project and increased the employee share of health benefits in FY2009. Merit increases and cost of living adjustments were eliminated and a new health care plan and provider were implemented in the FY2010 budget. City of Westminster

Page 2

We will continue to provide information on possible reductions as the Mayor and Council discuss the options and develop a plan to balance the budget. Updates will also be provided on the website www.westminstermd.gov.

###

The City of Westminster Administration Department is located at 56 West Main Street. This department oversees all of the departments in the General Government and is the central location for the City. For more information, call 410-848-9000 or visit www.westminstermd.gov.

20090918 Westminster City Discusses Budget Cuts

Here you can read about the City of Westminster in previous articles that have been published.

http://www.westgov.com/news/news_main.html

Nonprofits benefit from FallFest, Carroll County Times
FallFest to set aside time for children with special needs, Carroll County Times
September 20, 2009 Proclaimed National Neighborhood Day, Press Release
Westminster passes public decency acts, Carroll County Times
Maryland budget reductions mean 6% cuts to Westminster, Carroll County Times
Westminster City discusses budget cuts, Press Release
Toilet Rebate Program a success, Carroll County Times
Water project earns stimulus grant money, Carroll County Times
Westminster buildings to undergo energy audits, Carroll County Times
City linking to crime website, Carroll County Times
Electronics recycling program set to launch, Carroll County Times
Red-light cameras awaiting final OK, Carroll County Times
Recreation and Parks News, Press Release
Toilet Rebate Program, Press Release
Westminster Comprehensive Plan maps out water future, Carroll County Times
Westminster housing variety highlighted, Carroll County Times
Westminster OKs Streetscape bid, Carroll County Times
Plan takes look at future of Westminster water woes, Advocate
Cutting a ribbon on history at the Westminster Water Treatment Plant, Westminster Eagle
Shop with a Cop, Carroll County Times
Building to undergo reconstruction, Advocate
Westminster Clock Tower restoration, Carroll County Times
Westminster: City likes what it sees in Carroll County's Comprehensive Plan, Carroll County Times
City promoting water conservation through grants, Advocate
Upgrade could be done by winter, Carroll County Times

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://www.kevindayhoffart.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://www.westgov.net/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/

Carroll County Times editorial: Look ahead for future shortfalls

Carroll County Times editorial: Look ahead for future shortfalls

Editorial for Monday, August 4, 2008

Look ahead for future shortfalls

Local governments are only a month into the new fiscal year, but they already need to be planning on additional shortfalls in next year's budget.

[…]

At the state level, budget analysts last month said revenues in the state were considerably off. Income tax revenue was almost $50 million short of projections, and sales tax revenue was down more than $25 million. Add to that shortfalls that states are experiencing in other areas, such as less gas tax money because people are changing their habits and driving less, and states across the nation are scrambling to figure out how to deal with shortfalls.

[…]

Now is not the time to get involved in costly long-term projects unless there is a clear need or an immediate return in the area of future savings. In addition, existing programs and where the money is going need to be closely examined to ensure that every single tax dollar collected is providing a definite return for citizens.

Many governments struggled this year trying to hold the line on their budgets. Some areas increased taxes or other fees to fill voids or make up for shortfalls. But with more and more families struggling to make ends meet, returning to taxpayers for additional money is going to be a hard sell.

[…]

Read the entire editorial here: Look ahead for future shortfalls

Westminster Dept Finance Budget 2009 – 2010 FY, Westminster Elections 20090511 Mayoral, Westminster Elections 20090511 Mayoral Financial Issues

20080804 Carroll County Times editorial: Look ahead for future shortfalls