Northeast News
February 18, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Last Thursday, Mayor Sly James and City Manager Troy Schulte delivered the city’s Fiscal Year 2015-2016 budget to the City Council.

According to a press release from the city, the submitted budget aligns with the goals established as part of the Citywide Business Plan to set the city on a path toward greater financial stability. Additionally, the FY 2015-16 budget represents the beginning of a new trend—a joint budget letter reflecting months of collaboration between the mayor and city manager.

Funding recommendations for the city’s many departments and programs can be found in line-item detail as part of the FY 2015-16 cudget, which can be found online through Open Data KC at https://data.kcmo.org. The FY 2015-16 Submitted Budget establishes:

•Planned expenditures of $1.47 billion, representing an increase of 3.5 percent over the Fiscal Year 2014-15 adopted budget.

• A one-year salary freeze for all city employees, including employees of the Kansas City Police and Fire Departments.

• Fully-funding the city’s pension obligation.

• Additional funding for community and youth anti-violence programs, such as KC No Violence Alliance and Teens in Transition, to reduce homicides and remove high-risk teens from the cycle of violence.

• Increases to the operating budget for the Fire Department to meet current service demands.

• Allocations for the beginning of an eight-year plan for the replacement of aging city vehicles and equipment, such as dump trucks and pick-up trucks.

• General Fund surplus of $1.4 million plus $5 million in contingency reserves.

“The submitted budget contains the structural changes which are essential for protecting a strong financial future for our City,” Schulte said. “It includes the investments in neighborhoods that our residents have requested, and continues our strong commitment to public safety.”

A new interactive tool, called Open Budget KC, allows residents, business owners, and other stakeholders to visualize and explore how the city allocates its money among the city council’s priorities. In addition to presenting the city’s budget data in a visual and interactive way, Open Budget KC enables users to easily create and share customized links, or download budget data. Open Budget KC is available online at http://budget.kcmo.gov/.

Residents are encouraged to provide feedback regarding the submitted budget at either of the following public budget hearings:

9 — 11 a.m.

Saturday, Feb. 21

• Regional Police Academy

• 6885 N.E. Pleasant Valley Road

9 — 11 a.m.,

Saturday, Feb. 28

• Southeast Community Center

4201 E. 63rd Street Residents are able to provide feedback online through KCMOmentum.org, or through the city’s interactive budget Twitter chat which will take place from 3 — 4 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. During this time, James, Schulte, city department directors and budget staff will gather together at City Hall to respond to the public’s questions and comments live via Twitter. Residents who are unable to use Twitter may participate in the interactive budget chat using email at kcmosocial@kcmo.org.