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Finance > Budget, Policy and Strategic Planning > FAQ FAQHow do I get a copy of the City Budget? What is the total City Budget? What is the General Fund portion of the City Budget? What are “funds” and why does the City have them? What is the largest source of revenue for the City? What is the CIP (Capital Improvement Program)? What is the City’s Fiscal Year? What is the total number of City employees? How do I get involved in the budget process? When is the Proposed Budget required to be submitted to the City Council? How do I get a copy of the City Budget? You can get a copy of any budget document online. What is a City Budget? One of the most important documents of any municipality is the annual city budget. It establishes how public funding will be spent and outlines the spending priorities for the future fiscal year. Costs for everyday services such as trash pick up, police patrol, fire response, water services, street repair and recreation and parks programs are itemized in the budget. What is the total City Budget? The total fiscal year 2007-08 City budget is $972.5 million. What is the General Fund portion of the City Budget? The total fiscal year 2007-08 General Fund budget is $431.2 million. What is the General Fund? The largest fund in the City is the General Fund. The General Fund is supported by taxes and fees and generally has no funding restrictions. What is an Enterprise Fund? An Enterprise Fund is a government facility or service that is self supporting through the fees associated with operating that particular service. The City currently has seven Enterprise Funds (Parking Fund, Water Fund, Sewer Fund, Solid Waste Fund, Marina Fund, Community Center Fund and Storm Drainage Fund). What are “funds” and why does the City have them? The City receives revenues from many difference sources. Most of them have restrictions on how they can be used. For example, money from the Federal Government (Community Development Block Grant, or CDBG funds) must be used in low & moderate census track areas. Monies received through sewer fees must be used to operate and maintain the City’s sewer system. The largest fund in the City is the General Fund which is the City’s primary funding source. The General Fund is supported by taxes and fees and generally has no restrictions on their use. What is the largest source of revenue for the City? The largest source of revenue for the City is taxes. The total amount of taxes collected during fiscal year 2007-08 is $295 million. Tax revenue primarily consists of Property Tax, Sales Tax and Utility Users Tax. How is the budget developed? The City’s fiscal year runs from July 1st through June 30th. The City Charter requires the City Manager present a proposed annual budget to the City Council by May 1st, and requires that the City Council approve a balanced budget for the following fiscal year by June 30th. These charter requirements drive the deadlines and timelines for the operating budget process. What is the CIP (Capital Improvement Program)? The Capital Improvement Program is a five year plan for the funding and construction or repair of City buildings and facilities such as streets, roads, storm drains, traffic signals, parks and community centers. The total planned CIP budget for fiscal year 2007-08 is $128.5 million. The primary sources of funding for the CIP are Measure A Transportation Funding, Water fee revenue, Sewer fee revenue and Major Street Construction funding. What is the City’s Fiscal Year? The City's Finances operate on a fiscal year rather than a calendar year. The City’s fiscal year begins on July 1st and ends on June 30th. What is the total number of City positions? The total number of authorized FTE positions in the City is 5,274. Some positions are required to work less than the standard number of working hours and days; therefore, the total number of positions in the City is not a whole number. How do I get involved in the budget process? The City Council holds public hearings on the City’s Proposed Budget during May and June. To obtain a City Council agenda go the City Clerk’s Web page. When is the Proposed Budget required to be submitted to the City Council? The Charter requires that the City Manager submit an annual Proposed Budget to the City Council by May 1st of each fiscal year. What is the Proposed Budget? The City Charter requires the City Manager to present a proposed annual budget to the City Council by May 1st. The Proposed Budget outlines the recommended spending plan and revenue estimates for the coming fiscal year. What are the responsibilities of the Budget, Policy & Strategic Planning Division of the Department of Finance? The Budget, Policy and Strategic Planning Division of the Department of Finance is primarily responsible for the development and preparation of the City of Sacramento’s annual operating budget and Capital Improvement Program budget. In addition, staff provides analysis and recommendations regarding fiscal and operational issues to the City Manager’s Office, the City Council, Charter Offices and City operating departments. What is the Approved Budget? The annual operating budget is a City Council approved spending plan for use of the City’s funding sources. The plan is a ‘living’ document that guides the allocation of funds for certain purposes and is revised and adjusted throughout the year. The City Charter requires that the City Council approve a balanced budget for the following fiscal year by June 30th. |
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Page last modified 05/01/2008 at 9:37 AM
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