CITY OF AUBURN

2010 State of the City

March 25, 2010

Cover Slide

State of the City

Auburn, New York

March 25, 2010

Michael D. Quill, Mayor

Gilda Brower, City Councilor
William Graney, City Councilor
Thomas McNabb, City Councilor
Matthew Smith, City Councilor
Mark R. Palesh, City Manager

Department Heads

City of Auburn: Department Heads

Jerry DelFavero, Superintendent
of Public Works
Gary Giannotta, Chief of Police
Lisa Green, Comptroller
Jenny Haines, Director OPED
Mike Hammon, Fire Chief
Bill Lupien, Jr., P.E.,
Superintendent of Engineering
Services
Debby McCormick, City Clerk
Vicky Murphy, Director of
Municipal Utilities
John Rossi, Corporation Counsel
Christina Selvek, Director of
Capital Projects & Grants

1
Fiscal Condition

NYCOM: City Budget Survey

Fiscal Condition
Worsening/
Significantly
Year Reported Deteriorating
• 2002 72%
• 2003 59%
• 2004 49%
• 2005 40%
• 2006 31%
• 2007 29%
• 2008 19%
• 2009 54%
• 2010 67%

Notes: Every year, the New York State Conference of Mayors and
Municipal Officials conducts a financial health Analysis of
municipalities. The following slides constitute the summary of the
findings from NYCOM’s January 2010 budget survey of 34 cities
outside of New York City, and serve as a representative cross section of
cities of all sizes and all regions of the state. These are my “Misery Loves
Company” slides.

67% of cities reported that their financial condition had “worsened” or

“significantly deteriorated” over the past year, continuing the dramatic
rise of last year’s 54% and reflecting the highest level since the post-9/11
recession of 2002.

2
Health Insurance and Pension Costs

NYCOM: City Budget Survey

Health Insurance and Pension Costs
• Health Insurance
• 71% of cities were successful in
implementing cost-saving measures
pertaining to health insurance;
• Health insurance on average now
consumes 30.1% of a city’s property
tax levy;
• Health insurance for municipal
retirees, on average, represents 33%
of a city’s total health insurance
budget.

Notes: The cost of pensions and health insurance continue to place an

inordinate amount of fiscal pressure on city budgets, combining to
represent 45.8% of the average city’s property tax levy.

• 71% of cities, including Auburn (compared to 51% in 2009) were

successful in implementing cost-saving measures pertaining to
health insurance, including increased employee/retiree
contributions and co-pays, as well as less expensive and/or single
provider coverage plans;
• Nonetheless, health insurance on average now consumes 30.1% of a
city’s property tax levy;
• The cost of health insurance for municipal retirees, on average,
represents 33% of a city’s total health insurance budget.

3
Health Insurance and Pension Costs

NYCOM: City Budget Survey

Health Insurance and Pension Costs
• Pensions
• The cost of providing public pensions
represents 15.7% of the responding
cities’ property tax levies;
• For the average city, public safety
pension costs represent nearly 75% of
their total annual pension bill;
• Pension bills for these cities will increase
by more than 33%.

Notes:

• The cost of providing public pensions represents 15.7% of the

responding cities’ property tax levies;
• For the average city, public safety pension costs represent nearly
75% of their total annual pension bill;
• Pension bills due in December 2010 (or February 2011) for these
cities will increase by more than 33%.

4
Local Efficiency Actions and Budgetary Controls

NYCOM: City Budget Survey

Local Efficiency Actions and Budgetary Controls

• 62% of cities decreased the size of

government through attrition, hiring freezes
and/or layoffs;
• 59% of cities deferred capital/infrastructure
spending;
• 50% of cities increased the number and/or
scope of intermunicipal agreements;
• 35% of cities have undertaken service
cutbacks, program eliminations and/or
austerity spending;
• 47% of cities increased water/sewer rates;
• 44% of cities increased other fees/fines.

Notes:

• The majority of cities, have initiated attrition measures such as:

• Hiring freezes and/or layoffs;
• Deferred capital/infrastructure spending;
• Increased inter-municipal agreements and shared services with
other local governments;
• Have undertaken service cutbacks, program eliminations and/or
austerity spending;
• Increased water/sewer rates and;
• Increased other fees/fines.
• Auburn has also initiated some of these same measures.

5
Use of Fund Balance

NYCOM: City Budget Survey

Use of Fund Balance
• 78% of cities reported appropriating a
portion of their fund balance to balance
their 2010 city budget, comparable to the
80% of cities doing so in 2009;
• The percent of fund balance, on average,
appropriated to balance city budgets in
2010 was 34%, up sharply from 22% in
2009; the average amount of fund
balance appropriated was $1.6 million.

Notes:

• 78% of cities reported using a portion of their fund reserve to

balance their 2010 city budget;
• The percent of fund reserve appropriated to balance city budgets
in 2010 was 34%, up sharply from 22% in 2009; the average
amount of fund reserve appropriated was $1.6 million (up from
$1.3 million in 2009).
• Last year, Auburn actually added $1.9 million to its fund reserve
and has not had to deplete it, to balance its budget.

6
Property Tax Growth

NYCOM: City Budget Survey

Property Tax Growth
• While Auburn’s property taxes remained
the same, 66% of cities increased
property tax rates for 2010, a sharp
increase in an upward trend over the past
three years (57% in 2009 and 54% in
2008);
• The average property tax rate increase
for 2010 was 4.4%, up from 3.8% in
2009.

Notes: Even with the extensive use of local efficiency actions and
budgetary controls, as described above, most cities were forced to
increase property taxes:

• While Auburn’s property taxes have remained the same, 66% of

cities increased property tax rates for 2010, a sharp increase in an
upward trend over the past three years (57% in 2009 and 54% in
2008);
• The average property tax rate increase for 2010 was 4.4%, up from
3.8% in 2009.

7
Year in Review

Auburn, New York:

2009 Year in Review

What has the City been doing

since last year?

Notes: Finances aside for the moment, what has the City of Auburn, NY
been doing since last year?

8
Market Street Park Project

Owasco River Waterfront:

Market Street Park Project

Notes: Market Street Park was reconstructed last year, thanks to grants
from the Department of State, and work provided by the City’s
Department of Public Works, Cayuga County Soil and Water
Conservation District, and Vitale Companies. The project included:
replacement of the fence along both sides of the river, improvements to
the band shell and listening area, installation of walks along the river
edge, improvement of paths throughout the park, new plantings and
new benches and tables.

The City is pleased to continue, in cooperation with the Auburn BID, the
Summer Concert Series at Market Street Park.

9
Musical Theatre Festival and Auburn Community Hotel Project

Musical Theatre Festival and

Auburn Community Hotel Project
• Musical Theatre Festival
• The City has partnered with the MTF,
Cayuga County, Cayuga Community
College, and SUNY in pursuing
SUNY Capital Funds to match over
$3Mil in fundraising commitments
• Auburn Community Hotel Project
• 88 Room Hilton Garden Inn and
Conference Center

Notes: The City continues to support the Musical Theatre Festival’s

efforts to attract financing for the demolition and reconstruction of the
Kalet’s Building in Downtown Auburn, in order to build the fourth
venue for the 2012 opening. The City has partnered with the MTF,
Cayuga County, Cayuga Community College, and the State University
of New York (SUNY) System in pursuing SUNY Capital Funds to match
over $3 million in fundraising commitments from local foundations and
individuals to establish this arts education and performance center.

In supporting efforts such as the Musical Theatre Festival, the City of

Auburn and Auburn Industrial Development Authority are considering a
proposal by Auburn Community Hotel and a group of local investors, to
construct a Hilton Garden Hotel and Conference Center. This high-end
hotel brand would consist of 88 rooms and encompass 58,000 square feet of
space. It will bring 49 full and part-time jobs and $5 Million in direct
spending to the local economy. Together, this hotel and conference center
represents over two years of effort by City Staff, and supports integral
strategies of the newly adopted City Comprehensive Plan and Musical
Theater Festival efforts. This is a catalyst project and represents an
economic turning point for the City of Auburn, and its future.

10
Creative Corridor

The “Creative Corridor”

Notes: The Creative Corridor includes a combination of retail, office,

and residential spaces including the home of the Stardust Foundation
and the Stardust Entrepreneurial Institute, which was dedicated this
past summer.

The committed partners have acquired many of the buildings along

State Street for redevelopment. The first phase entails restoration of the
building facades that will blend with the many existing buildings in the
downtown area. Renovations at 2 State Street are complete, and the
rehabilitation of 117 Genesee Street continues. The second phase will
include the renovation of the ground floor storefront spaces for retail,
food, entertainment and service uses. The upper floors will be renovated
for apartments and offices.

11
Comprehensive Plan

Comprehensive Plan
Pioneering a Sustainable Future
• Adopted by the City Council in January
• Starting with revisions to the Zoning
Ordinance
• Thank you Stardust Foundation

Notes: In January of 2010, the City Council adopted the new Comprehensive
Plan, completing a process begun in November of 2008. The Comprehensive
Plan process included public sessions to discuss the topic “What is your
Vision for the City of Auburn?”
Well-attended Community Focus Meetings were then held in early 2009 to
discuss Housing and Neighborhoods, Downtown and the Arts, the Owasco
River, and Business Development.
In addition to the community meetings, the Comprehensive Plan Advisory
Committee (CPAC), a diverse group of City residents that represent many
areas of interest throughout the City, met on a regular basis to provide input
and direction to staff and our consultant. The resultant document was
recommended to the Auburn Planning Board, which held its own public
hearing for the Comprehensive Plan on November 4, 2009. After its
approval, and recommendations, the City Council took up the Plan and
began a process of accepting additional public input, which resulted in
changes in the following topical areas:
1. The protection of historic signs and architectural elements
2. Discouraging pole signs throughout the City, except for the C-3
Highway Commercial areas, and areas to be designated at a later
date.

City Staff is now set to move forward with the projects and recommendations
contained in the Plan, starting with revisions to the Zoning Ordinance. The
City appreciates the partnership of the Stardust Foundation, which provided
a large matching grant for the Comprehensive Plan.
12
Comprehensive Energy and Sustainable Development Master Plan:

Energy Projects:
Comprehensive Sustainable Energy Plan
• Adopted June 19, 2009 by the City
• Focus on topics in:
• Alternative Energy and Conservation
• Transportation, Parks and Recreation and
Open Spaces
• Housing, Codes and Policies, Public
Spaces
• Solid Waste Management
• Agriculture and Food Waste
Management
• Water and Storm Water Management
• Healthy Schools
• Business and Economic Development

Notes: On June 19, 2009, the City of Auburn approved and adopted an
Energy Master Plan with the goal to make significant contributions to
energy conservation, resource management and environmental
awareness within the City of Auburn and Cayuga County. The plan will
serve as both a long-term vision and blueprint for the City’s
sustainability efforts and will focus on topics in the following areas:

• Alternative Energy and Conservation

• Transportation, Parks and Recreation and Open Spaces
• Housing, Codes and Policies, Public Spaces
• Solid Waste Management
• Agriculture and Food Waste Management
• Water and Storm Water Management
• Healthy Schools
• Business and Economic Development

Within each of the above focus areas, priority projects, timeframes and
potential funding sources have been identified. As you will see, we have
already started implementing some specific projects.

13
Auburn Bio-Energy Facility

Energy Projects:
Auburn Bio-energy Facility

Notes: The goal of the Auburn Bio-Energy Facility is to supply the City of
Auburn with a portion of its electricity needs, generate revenue and spur
economic development at the City’s Technology Park. The Bio-Energy
Facility has three primary components:
1) Integration of the City’s existing Landfill Gas Collection and Delivery
System with the Landfill Gas to Electric Generation Facility;
2) Production of electric power and steam heat from three generators
fueled by the landfill methane gas; and
3) Production of biogas from an anaerobic digester.
Phase I has been completed. Construction of the Landfill Gas to Electric
Generation Facility started in the Fall of 2009 and commercial operation of
the facility is in the start-up phase. It is estimated that this project will save
the City $350,000 per year in electricity costs at the Wastewater Treatment
Plant. The City of Auburn secured $2,581,477 in grants from NY State
Energy & Research Development Authority & US Dept. of Energy for this
portion of the project.
Phase II will focus on the construction of an Anaerobic Digester. The digester
will process municipal sludge to produce biogas that will help power the
generators. The City is actively working on an updated engineering study for
the Project, as well as pursuing Grant funding. This second phase of the
Project is estimated to save the City approximately $550,000 per year in
sludge hauling fees.

14
Sludge Handling Facility Enclosure Project

Energy Projects:
Sludge Handling Facility Enclosure

Notes: This past summer, the City of Auburn sludge incinerator at the
wastewater treatment plant became inoperable and was closed
indefinitely. As a temporary alternative until the municipal digester
could be constructed, the City has been transporting its dewatered
sludge to the Ontario County landfill. In order to continue this type of
operation through the winter months, the City constructed a heated
sludge handling enclosure located on the north side of the treatment
plant. This handling facility allowed the City to save over $1 million in
costs needed to repair the incinerator and will serve as the DEC
required secondary or emergency handling facility when the digester is
built.

15
Auburn Municipal Power Agency

Energy Projects:
Auburn Municipal Power Agency
• Public Ref #1 passed: City can bond up to
$10 Mil for municipal energy projects
• Exploring the feasibility of drilling for
natural gas on City-owned properties
• Working with the NYPA to identify and
develop solar projects
• Issued an RFP for developing the existing
hydroelectric facility at Mill Street Dam
• Awarded a contract for the development,
marketing and sale of carbon credits

Notes: We have a Municipal Power Agency, and they have been very
busy. In 2009, the public voted to support Public Referendum #1
allowing the City of Auburn to bond up to $10 million to implement
municipal energy projects. Some of these are:
• Exploring the feasibility of drilling for natural gas on City-owned
properties near the landfill.
• Working with the NY Power Authority to identify and develop
solar projects.
• Issued an RFP for developing the existing hydroelectric facility at
Mill Street Dam with future hydroelectric development to occur at
the Dunn & McCarthy site. A development firm has been selected.
This will be a public/private partnership that will help create
economic development by offering low cost power.
• Issued an RFP and awarded a contract to Cantor CO2e for the
development, marketing and sale of carbon credits resulting from
the Landfill Gas to Electric Generation Facility Project. The
potential annual revenue to the City for the sale of carbon credits is
approximately $300,000/year.

16
Auburn Beautification Commission

Auburn Beautification
Commission

Notes: The Auburn Beautification Commission (ABC), initiated in 2007

as a City Commission, is now a not-for-profit 501-c-3 charitable
corporation dedicated to making the City of Auburn a more beautiful
place to live. ABC is a membership organization using member dues and
grants to execute beautification projects throughout the City. Annual
citywide beautification projects include the Art-Around-Auburn
Competition, and in partnership with the Auburn BID, the hanging
flower baskets displayed yearly in Downtown Auburn.

17
Auburn Beautification Commission

Auburn Beautification
Commission
• Projects for this Summer
• Expand Flowering Hanging Basket
program in Downtown
• Implement an Adopt-A-Park
program
• Osborne Park on Grover Street
• City Hall Gazebo

Notes: This past summer, the ABC partnered with City Parks
Department Staff and Cornell Cooperative Extension to design and
implement a butterfly/ hummingbird education garden at Hoopes Park.
For the summer of 2010, the ABC is looking to expand the hanging
flower basket program and implement an Adopt-A-Park program. This
program will encourage local business owners to adopt-a-park or green
space to improve and provide general upkeep. A couple, already
identified projects include Osborne Park on Grover Street, and the City
Hall Gazebo, which has been adopted by Dickman Farm’s. Members of
ABC and its corporate sponsors are truly “Making Auburn Beautiful,
one flower at a time.”

18
Water and Sewer Regionalization Feasibility Study

Regionalization Efforts:
Water & Sewer Regionalization Feasibility Study

Notes: In 2008 the City of Auburn partnered with the Towns of

Aurelius, Fleming, Owasco, Sennett, Throop, and the Cayuga County
Water & Sewer Authority, to collaboratively work together in finding
ways to improve efficiencies and reduce costs for providing water and
sewer services to ratepayers.
 
These communities are part of an Inter-municipal Task Force that
received a $45,000 New York Department of State Local Government
Efficiency grant to study the feasibility of consolidating water and sewer
systems on a regional basis. The Inter-municipal Task Force has
participated in 7 workshops focusing on the technical, economic,
governance and institutional aspects associated with this process. Public
Presentations of the draft feasibility study will be given in April and
May of this year.

Because of its progress, and even in light of the State’s fiscal crisis, the
State of New York awarded the Inter-municipal Task Force a $710,000
Department of State Local Government Efficiency grant, to implement a
regionalized agency for water and sewer system consolidation. This was
the largest such grant awarded in the State.

19
June 6, 2009 Founder’s Day

Founder’s Day Celebration:

June 6, 2009
50th Anniversary of Alaskan Statehood
Keynote Speaker Sarah Palin

William H.
Seward

Notes: The City of Auburn held it’s first annual Founder’s Day event on
Saturday, June 6, 2009. Founder’s Day is an annual festival celebrating
the City of Auburn and some of its most influential citizens. Each year,
the event will encompass a different theme. For 2009, the City celebrated
the 50th anniversary of the statehood of Alaska and enjoyed hosting
Governor Sarah Palin and her family as the event keynote speaker.

20
June 12, 2010 Founder’s Day Events

Founder’s Day Celebration:

June 12, 2010 - Birthplace of Talking Movies
• Events for Saturday, June 12, 2010
• Community Parade through
Downtown (from Cayuga Museum
to City Hall)
• Ceremony following the parade with
guest speaker
• Expanded Arts and Food vendors
• Music and entertainment throughout
the afternoon
• Evening Dance - Joe Whiting Band

Notes: Saturday June 12, 2010 will mark the Second Annual Founders
Day Community Celebration with this year’s theme entitled “The
Birthplace of Talking Movies”. The City of Auburn is credited as the
“birthplace” of talking movies primarily due to the efforts of scientist
and entrepreneur Theodore W. Case (1888-1944). The City in
cooperation with the Founder’s Day Committee and Cayuga Museum
are planning a day-long celebration highlighting Theodore W. Case’s
achievements, the U.S. film industry, and to encourage visitation to our
historic community. The 2010 Founders Day Celebration will feature
many community events including an evening dance, downtown festival,
parade, and a notable keynote speaker’s address. Members of the Case
Family will also be in attendance.

21
History’s Hometown

Historic & Cultural Site’s Commission:

Auburn is History’s Hometown

Notes: In building upon Founder’s Day and embracing our history and
culture, the City adopted the “History’s Hometown” logo created by the
Historic Sites Commission, and which is displayed on the City’s Website.
This site is most often the first stop on the Internet for visitors
researching Auburn, New York.

22
2009 Road Program (completed)

Street Improvements:
2009 City Road Program

Market Street Hoopes Park Paths

Hoopes Park paved pathways, Casey Park entrance, Falcon
Park Improvements, Market Street, Teller Avenue, Seneca
Parkway, McIntosh Drive, Washington Street, Murray Street
Extension, Hamilton Avenue, Quill Avenue, Oak Street, Park
Avenue, North Marvine Avenue, Lansing Street, Logan Street,
North Hoopes Avenue, North Lewis Street, Ketchell Street,
Cross Street, Nelson Street

Since 2007, the City has doubled its budget for street and sidewalk
improvements. The Hoopes Park pathways were reconstructed along
with those projects shown here and on the following slide.

2009 Sidewalk Programs (completed)

Sidewalk Improvements:

• Columbus Street Area through the Revolving Loan

Sidewalk Program
• Tuxill Sq., Logan St.; and Elizabeth St. with CDBG
Sidewalk Program funds
• Genesee Elamentary School area with CDBG-R
• Sidewalk curb ramps through the City Sidewalk,
Curb and Handicapped Ramp Program

23
Landfill – Cells #3 & #4

City Landfill:
Cell 3 and Cell 4

Notes: Cell 3 at the City Landfill had 17 new vertical extraction wells
installed to capture methane gas created by decomposition. This
methane will be drawn off, compressed and sent to the Landfill Gas to
Electric Generation Facility located at the Wastewater Treatment Plant
for the generation of electricity to power the plant.

Because of this landfill gas-to-energy effort, the City has attracted a new
Technology Park Industrial business, which would use all the heat and
some of the excess electricity from the Electric Generation Facility.
When completed, the proposed business would bring between 15-20 new
full time jobs in addition to a number of service jobs to the area.

The new Cell 4 at the City Landfill, a 9.5 acre, $6 million addition, has
been accepting waste since 2009 and is estimated to provide an
additional 9 years of service to our facility. The facility serves both
commercial and residential customers from throughout central New
York.

24
Veteran’s Memorial Park

City Parks:
Veteran's Memorial Park

Notes: The City has worked for over three years with the Veterans
Memorial Park Committee, to bring to pass the new Veterans Memorial
Park, which was officially dedicated on June 14, 2009. Improvements
during this past year included a new stage area for the White Cross, war
memorials, retaining wall, brick pavers, and sod work. There is a plan
before Memorial Day to erect a new monument entrance sign in front of
the Park. After the Memorial Day Parade, there will be a ceremony at
the Park that includes the placing of wreathes.

25
Casey Park / Falcon Park

City Parks:
Casey Park & Falcon Park

Notes: Senator Michael Nozzolio secured a $200,000 grant to

rehabilitate the Casey Park Pool and Recreational Complex, which has
been renamed the Oropallo Recreation Complex. Improvements
included a new pool liner and filter equipment and new rubber flooring
in the lobby area and locker rooms. The City also received a $10,000
grant from Assemblyman Gary Finch towards facility improvements at
Casey Park. The City formed a partnership with the YMCA to run
summer programming at Casey Park, which proved to be very
successful. For the first time, artificial turf was procured and installed
on the ice rink floor for indoor lacrosse and soccer; further increasing
the use of the Facility.

Senator Nozzolio was also able to secure $42,000 in funding for

improvements at Falcon Park, which included new fencing surrounding
the ball field and improved grading and drainage along the dugouts. We
have televised a number of games for the past two years.

26
Hoopes Park and Clifford Park

City Parks:
Hoopes Park and Clifford Park
• Hoopes Park
• Ice-skating at Hoopes Park, in the
evenings and weekends
• Concert series continues this
summer on Tuesdays and Thursdays
starting on July 6, 2010
• Clifford Park
• New playground equipment
• Tennis courts will be resurface

Notes: During the winter, the City continued its re-introduction of ice-
skating at Hoopes Park, in the evenings and weekends. The City’s
popular concert series continues this summer on Tuesdays and
Thursdays starting on July 6, 2010 and running through August 31,
2010.

New playground equipment was installed at Clifford Park during the

summer, and the tennis courts will be resurfaced as soon as weather
permits.

27
Demolitions

Demolitions:
Residential & Old Municipal Garage

Notes: Through the efforts of the Department of Public Works,

Engineering, Planning, and Code Enforcement, three residential
properties and the old Municipal Garage, adjacent to the Fire
Department, were demolished. That space will be developed into
additional parking and landscaping for the Market Street area.

28
Auburn Police Department

Public Safety:
Auburn Police Department

Image by:
The Citizen

Notes: As part of a grant, tasers were secured by the Auburn Police

Department, and issued to line Police Officers. While controversial,
these tasers were deployed as of January 1st, 2010, in order to provide
protection to Officers, and an option for less violent contact between
Officers and the public. The City has also finished modernizing the
electronic parking meters throughout downtown.

29
Auburn Fire Department

Public Safety:
Auburn Fire Department

Notes: The Fire Department continues to implement the 6-year vehicle

replacement plan established in 2007. In 2008, a new ladder truck was
delivered to the City, and in 2009, two Pumper Trucks entered the fleet.

The savings generated from the geothermal project, completed at the

Police & Fire Facility in 2008 resulted in the procurement of new
windows, as well as new overhead doors.

In addition, the Fire Department has received a Grant, secured by

Senator Michael Nozzolio, in the amount of $35,000 for the purchase of
a command vehicle.

30
Finance – CAFR

Finance: CAFR
• Recently the City received our
auditor’s report for the FY 08 – 09,
where the firm acknowledged that the
City of Auburn was among the best
financially managed.
• Certificate of Achievement for
Excellence in Financial Reporting
• Thank you Lisa Green

Notes:

Now to get back to Financial Matters…

Especially in these difficult economic times, it is important to note that

the City’s financial house is in order. Recently the City received our
auditor’s report for the Fiscal Year 2008 – 2009, where the firm
acknowledged that of the 40 municipalities that the firm audited, the
City of Auburn was among the best financially managed. The City of
Auburn has again been awarded the Certificate of Achievement for
Excellence in Financial Reporting for its Comprehensive Annual
Financial Report (CAFR). This is the eleventh consecutive year for
winning this prestigious award, which is given by the Government
Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA)
to those government units whose financial reports achieve the highest
standards in government accounting.

31
FY 2009-2010 Budget

City Budget Expectations:

For the upcoming FY 2010 - 2011

It is not my habit, nor do I wish to start now, to blame the State for the
actions our City, like other cities mentioned previously, must take to
remain fiscally responsible, and maintain the core services that are
required and expected by our Citizens. Individuals can only read the
paper and judge for themselves what problems the State has, and predict
with certainty, that the “trickledown” method of State fiscal solvency, will
be very much in vogue. To that end, the City of Auburn has been working
on a FY 2010 – 2011 Budget which will continue the consolidated programs
advanced in the last three years, develop more energy efficient and cost-
effective programs for service delivery, while looking at the elimination of
others.
As many of you know, we are still in the throws of Union negotiations with
the Police Officers Local and CSEA, the results of which are still
unknowns, but will impact the Budget process. That being said, I would
like to take this opportunity to thank both the Assistant Fire Chief’s
Association and the Professional Firefighters Local who recognized the
financial constraints of the City, and settled contracts which were fair and
in the best interests of all parties. It was actually a pleasure to work with
them.
The City of Auburn has enjoyed four years without any property tax
increases. The reasoning behind this was based on Citizen expectations - - -
make every cut you can before looking at tax increases as an answer to our
fiscal problems. Well, we have not only “picked the low-hanging fruit” but
we are already halfway up the tree! The decisions that the City must make
in the future will of necessity, be harder and more controversial.
32
Recently, a local County Executive put forth the notion that we must learn
to do LESS WITH LESS, rather than cling to the notion that doing MORE
WITH LESS is still attainable. While I agree in concept that this change of
attitude is necessary, let us not forget that there is still a great deal
individuals can do for themselves that they once relied upon government to
do. For example, two years ago we initiated the bagged leaf program,
which freed up crews and equipment for other tasks previously not
accomplished. Last year we compressed the trash pick-up schedule to free
up Mondays for neighborhood clean-up efforts. The City actually looked
cleaner, with less expenditure of tax dollars.
In the future, individual and family structured self-reliance and
neighborhood-oriented initiatives will be key in maintaining the quality of
life expectations that we once looked to government to achieve.

Thank you

Thank You

State of the City

Auburn, New York
March 25, 2010

33