Gilbert citizens budget panels submitting ideas

Recommended cost cuts and new revenue streams are beginning to filter in from the seven subcommittees of the Gilbert Citizens Budget Committee, a group looking for ways to fix the town's financial woes.

But with the exception of a sales tax hike supported by two of the subcommittees, few of the ideas would have much of an effect on the projected $14 million general fund shortfall.

The subcommittee responsible for combing through the fire department's $22 million budget for cost savings and sources of cash voted 7-0 to recommend putting a quarter-cent sales tax increase to a public vote.

Their proposed public-safety sales tax is similar to one adopted by the Town Council earlier this year, then rescinded after voter outcry led to a referendum drive that would likely have forced an election. Officials project it would raise $7.3 million for the general fund.

The proposal was variously referred to as a "political football" and "hot potato" during a Wednesday meeting of the steering committee for the Citizens Budget Committee. The group is responsible for going through all the subcommittee recommendations to create a final report for the Council next month.

The other group backing a sales tax increase is the administrative services committee, which has been studying departments such as the town manager's office and support services.

The soonest an election could be held is May 2010, if the Town Council votes to call an election by early January.

The other three subcommittees that have finalized their recommendations have not called for a tax election, recommending other ways for Gilbert to lower costs or raise revenues.

Some of the other recommendations are:

Delaying $3.3 million worth of construction projects.

Reduce fire department overtime, vehicle repair budgets and other costs by $755,000.

Eliminate the exemption of small-scale residential landlords from having to collect sales tax, raising an estimated $515,000.

Discontinuing paper distribution of the Your Town newsletter, saving $223,000.

The public works committee made 32 recommendations, by far the most of any group, but most of its utilities are funded separately from the town's general fund, which is where the shortfall is.

Among the recommendations that committee did make was eliminating $300,000 in funding for programs at the Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch, currently funded by sewer bills. The town in 2003 set a five-year goal for the Riparian Institute housed at the park to be fully funded by fees and private sponsors.

The two subcommittees that have not yet submitted recommendations are those reviewing the police department, which takes up the largest share of the general fund at $43.1 million, and community services, which has a $15 million budget and includes many of the programs many fiscal conservatives say should be the first to go.

The steering committee's next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Nov. 30 in Conference Room 300 of the Gilbert Municipal Center, 50 E. Civic Center Drive.