City Budget Recommendations - District 3 - Zim Zimmerman

1. To what extent are you aware of the City's budget situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Aware of the details	92	51.40%
Don't know the details	77	43.02%
Not aware of situation	10	5.59%

2. How important to our residents and/or to your neighborhood is the City's financial situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Critical	74	41.34%
Important	93	51.96%
Somewhat important	11	6.15%
Not important	1	0.56%

3. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to reducing expenses would you likely take?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Across the board cuts in all departments (includes police, fire, streets) - $38.5 million	49	27.37%
Strategic cuts resulting in reduction of public services - $23 million	56	31.28%
Significant reductions or elimination of non-critical services (i.e., libraries, economic development, senior citizens assistance) - $35.7 million	37	20.67%
Smaller reductions or elimination of non-critical services - $9.4 million	37	20.67%

4. Please indicate the top 3 expense areas you would reduce to help balance the 2011 budget. (Some areas have been grouped for the purpose of this survey.)
Answer	Count	Percentage
Police	15	8.38%
Fire	9	5.03%
Planning, zoning and development	49	27.37%
Libraries, parks, community centers, etc.	20	11.17%
Road construction, street repairs	11	6.15%
Facility maintenance	31	17.32%
City code enforcement, animal care and control	31	17.32%
Municipal court services	19	10.61%
Economic and community development programs	73	40.78%
Resident communication / customer service	30	16.76%
Administrative services - financial management, legal, human resources	76	42.46%
Pension contributions to City employees' retirement funds	52	29.05%
New vehicle purchases	121	67.60%

5. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to increasing revenues would you take?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Across the board – consider property tax increase, reducing or eliminating homestead exemptions, using rainy day funds and gas well revenues. – up to $105 million	42	23.46%
Use only tax-related options that can be applied to both operating budget and debt service (funds would be ongoing, i.e. property tax increase, homestead elimination / reductions) – up to $39.2 million	19	10.61%
No tax increases. Use some or all of available rainy day funds, gas well revenues. (note: only available for one year) -- up to $66.4 million)	118	65.92%

6. Please indicate the top 3 revenue options you would consider to help balance the 2011 budget.
Answer	Count	Percentage
Raise property taxes by 2 cents	30	16.76%
Raise property taxes by 4 cents	10	5.59%
Reduce homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	21	11.73%
Eliminate homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	3	1.68%
Use rainy day funds that exceed required reserve balances	115	64.25%
Use gas well revenue from property tax on minerals	135	75.42%
Use gas well revenue from bonuses, royalties and pipeline licenses	154	86.03%
Transportation user / developer impact fees	69	38.55%

7. Years you have lived in Fort Worth
Answer	Count	Percentage
0-10	29	16.20%
10-25	59	32.96%
25-40	49	27.37%
Over 40	42	23.46%