SANFORD, Fla. — Sanford City Commissioners are reviewing the city’s budget for possible cuts now that Amendment 3 is in effect.
City leaders met on Monday for a work session where they discussed what steps they could take to lessen the impact of an expected budget shortfall. One proposal is to charge a fire assessment fee for all residents, business owners, and non-profits to fund the fire department.
“We were thinking about trying to line those two together. These are the budget cuts and the services impacted and the fire assessment fee first,” said Craig Radzak, Sanford interim city manager, to the commission.
“Could you possibly start with the budget cuts before we consider the fire assessment fee?” asked District 1 Commissioner Sheena Britton. “We just promised the people that we weren’t going to do the fire assessment fee and now -- of course, I know what just happened.”
Sanford’s General Fund is about $86 million. 55% or $47 million comes from property tax revenue. Mayor Art Woodruff said the city may have to lay off some of its 500 employees and cut some city programs. “We’re looking at whether we have a recreation program or not and how many employees we’re going to have to lose,” said Mayor Woodruff.
The Sanford Police Department is looking at cutting nearly $2 million from its $30 million budget. Chief Cecil Smith said some of its vacant police officer positions may remain unfilled. “I am slated for 148, but I have 135 right now,” said Chief Smith. “So even if there are some ideas with some cuts with personnel, we’re already down.”
A citywide hiring freeze is already in place. Sanford leaders said they’re asking department heads to trim their budgets of non-essential spending. A final report on those reductions is due in January.
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