Keith Moore's list of options to cut the the deficit

Last summer, we asked Ward 1 Councilperson Keith Moore for this list of budget-cutting/revenue enhancing options he gave to City Council members in June. Some of them, particularly layoffs, are now getting serious consideration by the Finance Committee as we outlined in Monday's blog below. Do you see anything else that should be on the table?

Options To Explore to Deal With 2010-2011 Deficit
Keith Moore
6/09/2010

ISSUES TO REVISIT:

• Outsource Payroll
• Outsource Building Department
• Move E911 Com Center to County

REVENUES:

• Increase Criminal Fines
• Increase Building Permits
• Increase Rental Certificates
• Increase Food Inspections
• Increase Community Center and Park Permits
• Beefed up parking and traffic enforcement - quotas?
• Admissions tax - roller skating / bowling
• Hotel tax
• Foreclose on city liens to recoup fees

MOVING OFF GENERAL FUND:

• Make Gerry Stoker Economic Development Director - pay out of Econ Dev.

NON-MANDATORY / NON-CONTRACTUAL FUNCTIONS TO ELIMINATE / REDUCE:

• Health Department
• Recreation
• Parks and pools
• Go to 8-hour jail
• Stop paying utilities at Shea Stadium

SELL CITY PROPERTY:

• Firehouse 2
• Safety Lane
• Parks

LABOR CONTRACT RE-OPENERS:

• Investigate state’s willingness to approve bankruptcy to re-open contracts
• Furlough days
• Health Insurance: Co-pays, Deductibles, Premium contributions
• Fire minimum man: Return to fire levels before arbitrator’s award circa 2000
  
• Take fire equipment off active line / have firefighters on-call in case of large fire
• Consolidate firefighting with another jurisdiction - retain EMT service
• Police - bring in unpaid auxiliary for traffic/parking

INVESTIGATE PENALTIES FOR LATE PAYMENTS:

• PERS (Public Employees' Retirement System)
• Police/Fire Pension
• Service contracts
• Utilities
• Phones