At an Oct. 8, 2009, Special Budget Meeting of the City Council, staff provided an overview of the financial challenges facing Tempe. In light of the difficult choices that will be necessary to address these challenges, staff provided Council with a list of 21 different budget balancing parameters that could be used in developing a budget balancing plan. Each Councilmember expressed their particular preference with regards to how strongly each of the 21 measures should be considered in developing a plan to balance the budget. The individual Councilmember choices were aggregated and used to formulate a general framework for the City Manager and the Budget Results Teams to use in developing recommended solutions. The Council's rankings are listed below, from highest to lowest priority.

The eventual budget balancing plan for 2010-11 that is presented by staff to Council, or that is ultimately approved by the City Council, may or may not retain the preferences that these early rankings indicate.  Councilmembers have the ability to reverse their collective early preferences and go in different directions; these are meant to be an early indication for staff of the focus with which potential budget solutions should be pursued.

Sum

Should the elimination of vacant positions be evaluated?

20

Should organizational consolidation be considered?

19

Should the budget be balanced starting with FY 2010/11?

18

Should the reduction target include a contingency for future economic uncertainties?

18

Should a bed tax rate increase be considered?

18

Should the cost of health care costs be capped at current levels?

17

Should the City partner with other entities to provide shared services?

17

Should new alternative service delivery models be considered in non public safety areas?

16

Should the fund balance target policy be reduced?

15

Should program reductions/eliminations identified through a prioritization of services process be considered?

15

Should outsourcing/contracting of programs be considered?

15

Should all special events be 100% cost recovery?

15

Should another Voluntary Separation Incentive Program (VSIP) be offered?

14

Should employee health care contributions be increased?

14

Should mandatory reduced work weeks be considered?

13

Should a specific sales tax rate increase on individual taxable activities be considered?

12

Should new alternative service delivery models be considered in public safety?

11

Should an overall sales tax rate increase be considered?

11

Should the General Fund subsidize other funds?

10

Should reductions in staffing through layoffs be considered?

10

Should there be across the board departmental budget cuts?

7