City takes on budget tonight

By Kevin Killough
Staff writer

GALLUP — The city will be holding a special hearing for the fiscal year 2009 city budget tonight at 6:30 in the City Council chambers. As always, city departments request more than they need, knowing that they will not get everything they want. The city has approximately $2 million for nonrecurring expenses, which is anything outside yearly operating and personnel costs. It’s this pot that the departments vie for in order to fund their wish lists. To balance the budget, one department’s increase will mean another’s decrease, and the city’s administration has to make difficult decisions.

“We have taken the knife and delivered the first cuts in an effort to present a balanced budget,” Executive Director of Administration Services Judy Starkovich wrote in a budget message.

Total city revenues went just over $22 million in FY2007 and are projected to be nearly $24 million in FY 2008. The FY 2009 projection is expected to increase over 7 percent to $25.6 million. Personnel expenditures are projected to increase 8.1 percent in FY2009 from $13.3 million to $14.4 million. The operating costs are projected to increase 22 percent with capital outlay expenditures falling 80 percent by FY 2009. The city will be discussing these issues at the special meeting.

According to a budget message from the finance department, the city departments are managing to consistently come in under budget.

Tonight’s meeting is open to the public for anyone wishing to attend the meeting or comment on the budget. The mayor and council will also have an opportunity to voice their concerns. Any changes will need to be made before May 13, when the council will vote on the final budget adoption at the regular council meeting.