PROPOSED BUDGET FOR TOWNSCAPE POLICE DEPARTMENT
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2004-2005
This paper is prepared to explain Townscape City’s firm position on the three percent across the board budgetary increase. It also attempts to solve the problem on the four percent contractual raise as stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement and other important issues relevant to the City Police Department.
The revenue collected by the city government for this year is $59,200,405 which is 7.3 percent down from the previous year. The total expenditures reach to $65,298,178 which is 14.3 percent up from last year. This indicates that the city has experienced deficit. Based on the numerical data, public safety which includes police protection and fire protection claims the highest expenditures. It represents more than half of the general fund expenditure. To offset this deficit, it is a good option to cut the 4 percent contractual increase as stipulated in the collective bargaining agreement to 3 percent. This has no legal basis indeed but the city council can find a wise solution by arranging a meeting with the Labor Union to talk the matter and other concerns seriously so that a new agreement will be reached. I would suggest that the city government should offer a good bargain to these employees by assuring them of an increase in the next annual budget depending on the increase on the revenues.
Reduction in the expenditures of the Police Department will be in the administration section. Some special privileges and allowances will be cut temporarily until the city government can fully recover the deficit. Postponement on the hiring of new personnel for the Police Department should be temporarily implemented to reduce the expenses on salaries and wages. It is wise to utilize a portion of the funds in the training of the police officers, sergeants and other personnel to enhance their skills and be prepared physically and mentally to respond to all emergency calls. Important projects and programs on public safety must continue to provide better security to the people living in the city and to protect both public and private properties.
All these things should be properly delivered to the Police Department to clear any doubts regarding the proposed reduction in their budget. This action will prevent any form of mass demonstration that will mar the integrity of the city government of Townscape.
NOTE: The two spreadsheets that you recommend me to use for this paper are not available in the Internet. In fact, I am not able to find the city of Townscape in Illinois. The figures that I am using for this paper is obtained from the city of Wheaton in Kane County, Illinois.
DRAFT ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET
Unstable economic and local market conditions largely affect the revenues collected by the City Government of Townscape for this year. Financial department reports an increase in the city’s expenditures resulting in a negative difference. The city council’s decision to hold the increase to three percent for the Police Budget is certainly justifiable. The city has to reduce its expenditures to compensate for the deficit and prioritize those departments that will provide immediate solutions to the primary problems of the city.
This decision considers important issues or problems relevant to the people and the city. Dilapidated buildings are truly dangerous and public safety is at risk. The city government has to spend more money to repair and upgrade these crumbling buildings to deliver better services to the people. This means that the budget for public works must be on the top priority to serve and accommodate the growing community. The other significant issue is the fund balance and cash reserve policies. These policies aim to enhance long-term financial planning and mitigate the risks associated with changes in revenues. The city has to set aside sufficient money for unexpected expenditures despite of less revenue.
The city council makes a compromise with the Police Department to put an end to the problem regarding the proposed three percent increase. The council assures the Police Department for an increase in their budget for the next annual city budget ( 2005-2006). The increase will depend on the revenues that will be collected by the city government. To realize this, the council has to review their policies regarding private investments. The council members have to cooperate with each other to design new policies and regulations which will be favorable to both foreign and domestic investors. It would be an advantage to implement well-adjusted regulations which will encourage the investors’ favorable decision of establishing businesses in Townscape. Private investors will help increase the revenues of the city and will provide great employment opportunities to the people. The city council must see to it that commercial regulations will benefit the generation of profit of private investments and consequently to the revenue generation of the city in such a way that the city council has to enhance the commercial security and the health and safety of the community. Particular components of the city in ensuring the influx and consistency of investments are tenets of the council and that these have to be well-managed so to guarantee the agreed 4% raise in the next budgetary appropriation than continue to endure the 3% and sacrifice the supposed to be beneficial programs of Townscape.
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