Edmond adjusts budget
Sales tax revenues aren’t as high as anticipated

BY DIANA BALDWIN Comments 1
Published: October 31, 2009

EDMOND — Sales tax revenue is 7 percent below budget projections, leaving Edmond’s general fund $400,000 short. City officials are looking for ways to adjust the budget to cover the shortfall.

No layoffs or forced furlough days for city employees are being discussed, said City Manager Larry Stevens.

"We will have to make some adjustments,” Stevens said. "It is something we need to do.

"We are not in a budget crisis. We said that four months ago, and we are saying that now.”

Edmond’s general fund budget for this fiscal year that started July 1 is almost $226 million.

Edmond has budgeted for 686 full-time employees this fiscal year. On Friday, 667 of those positions were filled.

Stevens said they would take a close look at whether to fill the 19 vacant jobs.

The city’s staff drew up a list of possible reductions in the budget when it was approved in June, in case sales tax revenues did not meet projections.

"We are following up on that list of recommendations,” Stevens said.

Stevens and the city staff plan to make budget reduction recommendations to the city council members by their Nov. 9 meeting. The list had not been completed Friday.

One possible cost-cutting measure is to eliminate this year’s survey of citizens, a savings of $25,000. City officials generally do the survey every two years.

"It is that type of thing we are looking at,” Stevens said.

Stevens called the cuts "reasonable and appropriate. We are making appropriate adjustments to the budget. We are doing what we should be doing.”

Sales tax represents the city’s primary revenue source.

Ross VanderHamm, city finance director, said he doesn’t expect the city’s economic situation to change.

"There is nothing to indicate there are changes in the near future,” VanderHamm said.