https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources & Events
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • IWCE 2022
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Hybrid Work
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
    • Latest videos
    • Product Guides
  • Resources/Events
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers/eBooks
    • IWCE Expo
    • Calendar of Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
  • Magazine
acc.com

Smart Cities & Technology


Article

Keating Report: mid-year 2015 forecast on government budgets and spending-Part 2

Keating Report: mid-year 2015 forecast on government budgets and spending-Part 2

City leaders are optimistic. More than half (56 percent) of 313 respondents to an E-survey of GPN and American City and County readers expect their communities to get about the same or more funding from federal and state sources in 2016.
  • Written by mikekeat
  • 18th June 2015

As summer starts, there’s some optimism among municipal leaders. In Alexandria, Va., Mayor William D. Euille (photo below on right) tells GPN: “Real estate sales activity appears to be improving, which is critical to our city’s tax base and a positive trend. We are carefully watching other economically sensitive sources of revenue, such as sales tax and business licenses, which have become more important as our share of funding from federal and state sources has declined over time.”

Alexandria’s recently approved FY 2016 budget include funding for increased enrollment in the city’s public schools and staffing of a new fire station, adds the mayor. The new budget, he says, “provides compensation to recruit and retain high-performing employees.” Alexandria’s population is about 149,000, according to the Census Bureau.

A major project is steaming down the track, says Mayor Euille: “We recently selected a location for constructing a new Metrorail station, which is a significant economic development investment for Alexandria, and a major transportation improvement in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan region.”

The Alexandria, Va., mayor offers this advice to local administrators: “In challenging times with limited economic growth, be innovative and inclusive in your approach to economic development, work force management and development, and solutions to public problems.”

Nationally, local government officials are still counting on federal and state funding to help balance city and county budgets. More than half (56 percent) of 313 respondents to an E-survey of GPN and American City and County readers expect their communities to get about the same or more funding from federal and state sources in 2016 (see chart above). In the mid-year 2014 E-survey, almost 59 percent of respondents expected the same or higher state and federal funding in 2015.

The numbers are looking good, says Johns Creek, Ga., Mayor Mike Bodker (photo below on left). Established in 2006, the city of Johns Creek is a suburb of Atlanta. It is the 10th largest city in Georgia and its population is approximately 83,000.  

“As the second half of 2015 approaches, our forecasted revenues will exceed budgeted revenues by approximately $2 million or 3.9 percent.  We are taking a look at how best to use this revenue,” Mayor Bodker tells GPN. “Do we use it to increase fund balance reserves or spend on needed infrastructure projects?  Or are there other areas to better direct this funding?” The mayor says he’ll ask the city council to address those questions in the future.

The mayor says one of the biggest financial challenges facing cities is the continued erosion of local sales tax revenues through exemptions. “A few years ago, Georgia passed a tax reform bill that has resulted in declining sales taxes for many cities. As they move into the budgeting process for the next fiscal year, cities will be analyzing the impact those changes have already made and will try to predict future revenue trends.” Mayor Bodker tells GPN that it’s possible many cities will be faced with unpopular choices of eliminating services or raising property taxes to make up for the shortfall.

Johns Creek, working with three other local, state and federal jurisdictions, soon will be building a pedestrian bridge over the Chattahoochee River. The bridge will link parks and trail systems between Johns Creek and Duluth, and will eventually connect with trails with other neighboring cities, creating a regional network.

Michael Keating is senior editor for American City & County and the GPN web site. Contact: [email protected]

_____________

To get connected and stay up-to-date with similar content from American City & County:
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on Youtube

Tags: Economy Smart Cities & Technology Article

Most Recent


  • cities
    Gallery: Annual index ranks America's top performing cities; most are in the West
    Starting with the pandemic and the economic uncertainty that came along with it, it’s been a difficult few years for cities across the United States. As a testament to the resiliency and commitment of public administrators, American cities continue to thrive—with many of the fastest growing communities located in the West, according to the Milken […]
  • Orlando, FL
    Gallery: Top 10 American cities for seasonal and summer jobs
    With Memorial Day weekend upcoming, Americans everywhere are gearing up for longer days, warmer nights and seasonal summer jobs to begin. A new ranking from WalletHub lists the top cities for summer work based on criteria like employment outlook, availability of summer jobs, median income for part-time workers, affordability, and downtown-friendlinesss. “For some people, especially […]
  • digital
    How to leverage digital tools to drive innovation in government
    The rapid evolution of digital technologies transformed the way governments function, making them more efficient, transparent and citizen-friendly. Rather than relying on crystal trophies, governments can leverage digital tools to drive innovation and streamline processes, benefiting the population they serve. Open data and crowdsourcing Open data refers to making government data available to the public, […]
  • public trust
    With many cities facing a fiscal cliff as ARPA funding ends, debt ceiling debate continues on Capitol Hill
    As debate over the debt ceiling continues, cities and counties across the nation are facing an uncertain future as American Rescue Plan Act funding dries up. The federal government reached its spending cap of $31.4 trillion, previously set in 2021, in January. Since then, with lawmakers on Capitol Hill locked in impasse, the U.S. Department […]

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your American City and County account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • North Texas alliance partners with Marketplace.city on smart government solutions
  • Harris County deploys next-generation security in 150 public buildings
  • Prioritizing rapid restore leads to stronger ransomware attack recovery
  • Today’s infrastructure needs greater than roads and bridges - It’s time to face our digital connectiveness

White papers


5 reasons why Plan Examiners need Objective Trapeze

30th May 2023

7 Permitting & Licensing Fails Slowing Community Growth

24th May 2023

The Secret Ingredient to Local Government Employee Retention

23rd May 2023
view all

Webinars


How to Centralize and Build a Grants Management Process at your Organization

24th May 2023

Making Permitting Easier: What We’ve Learned Helping America’s Largest Cities Improve Their Permitting Process

16th May 2023

Digital Property Tax Collection: Tales from the Trenches of Modernization

16th May 2023
view all

PODCAST


Young Leaders Episode 4 – Cyril Jefferson – City Councilman, High Point, North Carolina

13th October 2020

Young Leaders Episode 3 – Shannon Hardin – City Council President, Columbus, Ohio

27th July 2020

Young Leaders Episode 2 – Christian Williams – Development Services Planner, Goodyear, Ariz.

1st July 2020
view all

GALLERIES


Gallery: Annual index ranks America’s top performing cities; most are in the West

30th May 2023

Gallery: Top 10 American cities for seasonal and summer jobs

25th May 2023

Gallery: 10 of America’s most affordable cities

9th May 2023
view all

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

Digital government comes with massive benefits — and new considerations, from accessibility to security to customer… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

31st May 2023
AmerCityCounty

5 reasons why Plan Examiners need Objective Trapeze dlvr.it/Sptl5z

30th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

Navigating crises with confidence: Five ways strategic plans support crisis response dlvr.it/SptVKN

30th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

Gallery: Annual index ranks America’s top performing cities; most are in the West dlvr.it/SpszdK

30th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

2022 Crown Communities Award winner: Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts’ jury selection system dlvr.it/SphCBk

26th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

Gallery: Top 10 American cities for seasonal and summer jobs dlvr.it/SpdFWy

25th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

How to leverage digital tools to drive innovation in government dlvr.it/Spcktb

25th May 2023
AmerCityCounty

With many cities facing a fiscal cliff as ARPA funding ends, debt ceiling debate continues on Capitol Hill dlvr.it/SpZLph

24th May 2023

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2023 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.