Mayor R.T. Rybak yesterday afternoon laid out a set of budget principles
that will be the basis for the Mayor's 2003 budget, to be presented to the
City Council in August. The principles were developed by the Mayor's Finance
Work Group, comprised of Council President Paul Ostrow, Ways and Means Chair
Barb Johnson and Council Member Barret Lane, who serves as Chair of the
group. The group also includes City Coordinator John Moir, Finance Director
Pat Born and Budget Director Tammy Omdal. Mayor Rybak has laid out an
ambitious schedule for his budget process, including presenting a budget to
the Council in August and working with the Council to finalize the budget by
October. This is a break from recent past practices, both in terms of the
schedule and involving Council Members earlier in the budget process.
Budget Principles
1. Secure the City's long term financial health.
* Plan budgets based on ten year outlook.
* Balance budgets across all funds.
2. Live within our means.
*Adopt a revenue and debt policy before making spending decisions.
*Adopt consistent budget policies across all city government
units including independent boards.
3. Challenge assumptions - nothing is off the table.
*Development agency resources are City resources.
*Unexpected revenue sources go through the same budget
process as other revenue.
*While some functions may be identified as
core services, they will also be scrutinized for efficiencies like anything
else.
4. Provide choices and competition.
* Departments will provide business plans including feasible
budget options to policymakers.
* Elected officials will make strategic resource decisions,
not across-the-board cuts.
*Individual projects in a particular area
must not be considered for funding individually.
5. Build in collaborative and transparent decision-making.
* Mayor will involve Council Members and independent
agencies and boards in the development of the budget through the Finance
Work Group. Employee suggestions and the citizen survey will also be used.
6. Protect core service delivery by avoiding duplication - both internal
and external
* between different City departments and agencies,
* with the County, the State, independent boards, or other
levels of Government, and
* with non-profits or the private sector.
* Consolidation or realignment of critical functions is an
option.
7. Demand accountability.
* Departments are expected to produce measureable outcomes
(x dollars = y level of service). Failure to produce measurements will not
result in escape from budget cuts.
* Department heads must manage to original budget.
Laura Sether
Standish-Ericsson neighborhood
Office of Mayor Rybak
350 S. 5th St., Room 331
Minneapolis, MN 55415
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