City Budget Recommendations - District 4 - Danny Scarth

1. To what extent are you aware of the City's budget situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Aware of the details	24	45.28%
Don't know the details	26	49.06%
Not aware of situation	3	5.66%

2. How important to our residents and/or to your neighborhood is the City's financial situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Critical	22	41.51%
Important	29	54.72%
Somewhat important	2	3.77%
Not important	0	0.00%

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	18	33.96%
Strategic cuts resulting in reduction of public services - $23 million	12	22.64%
Significant reductions or elimination of non-critical services (i.e., libraries, economic development, senior citizens assistance) - $35.7 million	4	7.55%
Smaller reductions or elimination of non-critical services - $9.4 million	19	35.85%

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	6	11.32%
Fire	3	5.66%
Planning, zoning and development	10	18.87%
Libraries, parks, community centers, etc.	8	15.09%
Road construction, street repairs	7	13.21%
Facility maintenance	9	16.98%
City code enforcement, animal care and control	14	26.42%
Municipal court services	5	9.43%
Economic and community development programs	18	33.96%
Resident communication / customer service	9	16.98%
Administrative services - financial management, legal, human resources	23	43.40%
Pension contributions to City employees' retirement funds	14	26.42%
New vehicle purchases	33	62.26%

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	14	26.42%
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	4	7.55%
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)	35	66.04%

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	8	15.09%
Raise property taxes by 4 cents	6	11.32%
Reduce homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	4	7.55%
Eliminate homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	1	1.89%
Use rainy day funds that exceed required reserve balances	39	73.58%
Use gas well revenue from property tax on minerals	44	83.02%
Use gas well revenue from bonuses, royalties and pipeline licenses	39	73.58%
Transportation user / developer impact fees	18	33.96%

7. Years you have lived in Fort Worth
Answer	Count	Percentage
0-10	12	22.64%
10-25	11	20.75%
25-40	13	24.53%
Over 40	17	32.08%