City Budget Recommendations - District 7 - Carter Burdette

1. To what extent are you aware of the City's budget situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Aware of the details	65	63.73%
Don't know the details	32	31.37%
Not aware of situation	5	4.90%

2. How important to our residents and/or to your neighborhood is the City's financial situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Critical	44	43.14%
Important	54	52.94%
Somewhat important	4	3.92%
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	28	27.45%
Strategic cuts resulting in reduction of public services - $23 million	21	20.59%
Significant reductions or elimination of non-critical services (i.e., libraries, economic development, senior citizens assistance) - $35.7 million	20	19.61%
Smaller reductions or elimination of non-critical services - $9.4 million	33	32.35%

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	5	4.90%
Fire	4	3.92%
Planning, zoning and development	21	20.59%
Libraries, parks, community centers, etc.	16	15.69%
Road construction, street repairs	2	1.96%
Facility maintenance	20	19.61%
City code enforcement, animal care and control	23	22.55%
Municipal court services	16	15.69%
Economic and community development programs	36	35.29%
Resident communication / customer service	18	17.65%
Administrative services - financial management, legal, human resources	48	47.06%
Pension contributions to City employees' retirement funds	39	38.24%
New vehicle purchases	58	56.86%

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	30	29.41%
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	8.82%
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)	63	61.76%

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	20	19.61%
Raise property taxes by 4 cents	7	6.86%
Reduce homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	12	11.76%
Eliminate homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	3	2.94%
Use rainy day funds that exceed required reserve balances	68	66.67%
Use gas well revenue from property tax on minerals	79	77.45%
Use gas well revenue from bonuses, royalties and pipeline licenses	85	83.33%
Transportation user / developer impact fees	32	31.37%

7. Years you have lived in Fort Worth
Answer	Count	Percentage
0-10	20	19.61%
10-25	21	20.59%
25-40	26	25.49%
Over 40	35	34.31%