NORMAN — Even though thousands in Norman are struggling with layoffs, furloughs and other hardships related to the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, the city’s Finance Committee unveiled some proposals last week that could keep 26 of its employees on the job by passing the buck onto its residents.
At least some of the bucks.
According to city documents, proposed budget changes drafted last week would increase traffic violation fines, some by as much as $100 per instance, in an attempt to find the $1.3 million needed to save 26 employees from the unemployment ranks.
Proposed fines for careless driving would jump from $35 to $100. Running a stop sign would go up from $35 to $100, as well.
And if you’re racing on the highway or speeding in a school zone, your fine would go from $100 to $200.
City documents show the increased administrative fees would generate an additional $443,175 for the city’s general fund.
The Finance Committee, made up of Councilmen Hal Ezzell, Dan Quinn and Doug Cubberley and Councilwoman Carol Dillingham, also suggested adding a $3-per-transaction convenience fee for those paying City of Norman bills with a credit card. That change would generate an estimated $85,000 each year.
Other increases for residents may include returned check fees (from $15 to $25), green fees at Westwood (totaling $27,850 per year), water discontinuance fees (from $15 to $50), fees for utility service initiation (from $10 to $25), additional polycart fees (from $5 to $7.50) and temporary water service fees (from $10 to $25). These increases would pass on an additional $89,350 to Norman residents.
According to the committee’s proposal, another $650,000 will come by increasing franchise fees paid by businesses operating on city property, and sales tax growth projections will go from 2 percent to zero percent. Further funding (about $415,000) to save the jobs would come from the capital fund, which will go to pay employees who work on capital projects but get paid out of the general fund.
Rosenthal also announced Tuesday evening that Public Safety Sales Tax funds will not be used to save 38 city jobs proposed to be cut in the next fiscal year. She said the oversight committee charged with supervising PSST funds agreed the half-cent tax is intended to hire dozens of police officers and firefighters and build two new fire stations.
Rosenthal said the city has a “fundamental problem” right now — it’s spending more money than it takes in.
In fact, Finance Director Anthony Francisco said the city spent $2 million more than it took in during the 2009 fiscal year. For the 2010 fiscal year, which ends June 30, he said that number will balloon to $4 million.
Francisco also remained cautious about the city’s sales tax collection trend, despite the fact May’s sales tax numbers showed a glimmer of hope.
“Our sales tax revenues are not following as healthy a pattern as they have in the past,” Francisco said Tuesday.
As of May, sales tax collections in Norman have generally been on the decline and have only posted year-over-year increases this month and back in February.
Butch Crawford, president of the local firefighters’ union, said he thought things would look a whole lot rosier if city officials would just be a little more optimistic.
“I would like to look at the glass as half full, not half empty,” Crawford said, citing May’s sales tax check from the Oklahoma Tax Commission. “We ought to look at what’s actually happening … if you look at things taken together, you’re going see the trend is turning around.”
Other proposed budget cuts, including a citywide, 96-hour-per-year furlough program, is still on the table, city officials say.
Andrew Knittle 366-3540 aknittle@normantranscript.com
