The City of Tacoma released the results of its ongoing, online budget survey. The survey asks participants to select five services he or she would like to see restored or reduced when the City Council finishes its budget process by years end. The City of Tacoma has a $29.6 million dollar budget gap to cover in order to balance the budget during the 2005-2006 biennium. City Manager Jim Walton has proposed $13.5 million in budget reductions from services that the City currently provides.
Sixty-three services would be cut or have their funding reduced according to the 2005-2006 biennial budget submitted to the City Council Oct. 23 by the City Manager.
As of Nov. 28, 168 people have responded to the survey. Results are as follows:
Services Citizens Want Restored
1. Fire / Emergency response 104
2. Police / Patrol 83
3. Police / CLOs 82
4. Library 55
5. Public Works / Streets 54
6. HR&HS / Planning & Development 50
7. HR&HS / Seniors (Transportation) 41
8. Police / Incarceration Services 28
9. HR&HS / Seniors (Case Management) 26
10. TEDD / Special Funding (Neighborhood Council admin) 24
Services Citizens Want Reduced / Cut
1. OMBA Special capital investment projects 19
2. OMBA Theaters 18
3. OMBA Special funding 14
4. Public Works Parking enforcement 11
5. TEDD all 11
6. TEDD Partnership development/business development 11
7. TEDD Business recruitment & retention 9
8. TEDD cultural development 8
9. HR&HS – Equal employment 7
10. Legal – legislation 7
For more information about the survey results, visit http://www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/tacomanews/General_Information/budgetsurvey.asp.
If you would like to participate in the survey, visit http://govme.cityoftacoma.org/govme/councilSurvey/survey_new.aspx.
