City Budget Recommendations - District 8 - Kathleen Hicks

1. To what extent are you aware of the City's budget situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Aware of the details	22	45.83%
Don't know the details	24	50.00%
Not aware of situation	2	4.17%

2. How important to our residents and/or to your neighborhood is the City's financial situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Critical	13	27.08%
Important	26	54.17%
Somewhat important	8	16.67%
Not important	0	0.00%
Other	1	2.08%

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	9	18.75%
Strategic cuts resulting in reduction of public services - $23 million	14	29.17%
Significant reductions or elimination of non-critical services (i.e., libraries, economic development, senior citizens assistance) - $35.7 million	11	22.92%
Smaller reductions or elimination of non-critical services - $9.4 million	14	29.17%

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	2	4.17%
Fire	0	0.00%
Planning, zoning and development	16	33.33%
Libraries, parks, community centers, etc.	5	10.42%
Road construction, street repairs	4	8.33%
Facility maintenance	6	12.50%
City code enforcement, animal care and control	9	18.75%
Municipal court services	3	6.25%
Economic and community development programs	19	39.58%
Resident communication / customer service	6	12.50%
Administrative services - financial management, legal, human resources	20	41.67%
Pension contributions to City employees' retirement funds	17	35.42%
New vehicle purchases	37	77.08%

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	11	22.92%
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	11	22.92%
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)	26	54.17%

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	9	18.75%
Raise property taxes by 4 cents	4	8.33%
Reduce homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	2	4.17%
Eliminate homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	6	12.50%
Use rainy day funds that exceed required reserve balances	32	66.67%
Use gas well revenue from property tax on minerals	38	79.17%
Use gas well revenue from bonuses, royalties and pipeline licenses	41	85.42%
Transportation user / developer impact fees	12	25.00%

7. Years you have lived in Fort Worth
Answer	Count	Percentage
0-10	16	33.33%
10-25	12	25.00%
25-40	12	25.00%
Over 40	8	16.67%