2017 City budget recommendation includes tax increase, adds $17 million to general fund

City Manager Tommy Gonzalez recommended a general fund increase of $17.3 million dollars for fiscal year 2017.

City staff said the increases would cover voter-approved obligations like debt for the Quality of Life bond projects, the upkeep of those projects, salary increases for firefighters, and debt approved by city council to repave streets.

The impact on the average taxpayer, according to a presentation, would be an additional $38.59 dollars over last year’s taxes, bringing the city’s portion of an El Pasoans’ tax bill to $980.

Mayor Leeser said this week he would veto any budget that included a tax increase and directed the city manager to come up with proposed savings. He asked council to approve a balanced budget.

District 1 City Representative Peter Svarzbein questioned the wisdom of having a balanced budget that cuts essential services.

Gonzalez proposed cuts that would, among other things, stretch out improvements to the Animal Services department and a cyber security plan over a longer period so they would not be accomplished in one year.

The city manager advised council the only way to save is to cut. “If you want to put it towards needs, you put it on the credit card. Do you want to save or do you want to put it towards needs?” Gonzalez asked.

Municipal Clerk Richarda Momsen warned council a freeze in “vacancy management” will impact customer service. “The phones not getting answered and you’re going to hear about it. The lines at the counter getting longer and you’re going to hear about it. When you call 911, you’re put on hold and you’re going to hear about it. Know that this comes with a cost.”

Mayor Leeser asked Momsen not to lump in 911 operators. “It’s not very responsible, to be honest with you,” he said.

Mayor Leeser also said he does not want the budget cuts to affect public safety.

“I want to make sure public safety is not an option we have to make sure we maintain it and we don’t cut any part of public safety and that is the direction that all of council gave to the city manager,” Leeser told ABC-7.

The city’s next budget hearings will be July 12th and the 19th.