TITLE
Recommendation to receive the supporting documentation into the record, conclude the hearing and adopt attached resolution, which would place the Long Beach Neighborhood Library Protection Measure on the April 11, 2006 Primary Nominating Election ballot, for the purpose of restoring and enhancing Library Services citywide; and
DISCUSSION
On June 21, 2005, the City Council directed City staff to research community support for
potential revenue-generating ballot initiatives. As a result, community surveys were
conducted in October and November 2005. The findings indicate that likely Long Beach
voters recognize the City needs additional resources to provide effective public safety
and library services and would support increased taxes for enhancements to these
areas.
The City’s Financial Strategic Plan (Plan), which was endorsed by the City Council in
2003, outlined a strategy with options to balance what, at that time, was a projected
$102 million deficit in the City’s General Fund. These options included both reductions
in expenditures for City services as well as proposed new revenue sources, such as
increases in fees to improve cost recovery for City services and higher investment
returns on City assets. Over the past three years, implementation of the Plan has
resulted in over 400 City employee positions being eliminated, efficiency gains in
several key service areas, extensive reductions in equipment and support costs, and
reduced City service levels. Consequently, the projected $1 02 million structural deficit
in the General Fund was reduced by $92 million, with the balance to be eliminated by
fiscal year 2007 (October 1,2006 - September 30,2007).
restore core community services that were impacted through the Plan, the City
Council’s Budget Oversight Committee researched potential new revenue opportunities.
This included surveys by City staff of other communities that had been successful in
passing local ballot initiatives to fund core services. On Ju...
Click here for full text