City Budget Recommendations - District 6 - Jungus Jordan

1. To what extent are you aware of the City's budget situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Aware of the details	52	53.61%
Don't know the details	40	41.24%
Not aware of situation	5	5.15%

2. How important to our residents and/or to your neighborhood is the City's financial situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Critical	44	45.36%
Important	43	44.33%
Somewhat important	8	8.25%
Not important	0	0.00%
Other	2	2.06%

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	31	31.96%
Strategic cuts resulting in reduction of public services - $23 million	25	25.77%
Significant reductions or elimination of non-critical services (i.e., libraries, economic development, senior citizens assistance) - $35.7 million	16	16.49%
Smaller reductions or elimination of non-critical services - $9.4 million	25	25.77%

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	8	8.25%
Fire	7	7.22%
Planning, zoning and development	34	35.05%
Libraries, parks, community centers, etc.	20	20.62%
Road construction, street repairs	5	5.15%
Facility maintenance	11	11.34%
City code enforcement, animal care and control	16	16.49%
Municipal court services	11	11.34%
Economic and community development programs	31	31.96%
Resident communication / customer service	14	14.43%
Administrative services - financial management, legal, human resources	40	41.24%
Pension contributions to City employees' retirement funds	28	28.87%
New vehicle purchases	66	68.04%

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	22	22.68%
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	9	9.28%
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)	66	68.04%

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	21	21.65%
Raise property taxes by 4 cents	6	6.19%
Reduce homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	13	13.40%
Eliminate homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	3	3.09%
Use rainy day funds that exceed required reserve balances	52	53.61%
Use gas well revenue from property tax on minerals	78	80.41%
Use gas well revenue from bonuses, royalties and pipeline licenses	82	84.54%
Transportation user / developer impact fees	36	37.11%

7. Years you have lived in Fort Worth
Answer	Count	Percentage
0-10	19	19.59%
10-25	36	37.11%
25-40	23	23.71%
Over 40	19	19.59%