City Budget Recommendations - District 5 - Frank Moss

1. To what extent are you aware of the City's budget situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Aware of the details	5	45.45%
Don't know the details	4	36.36%
Not aware of situation	2	18.18%

2. How important to our residents and/or to your neighborhood is the City's financial situation?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Critical	4	36.36%
Important	6	54.55%
Somewhat important	0	0.00%
Not important	0	0.00%
Other	1	9.09%

3. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to reducing expenses would you likely take?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Across the board cuts in all departments (includes police, fire, streets) - $38.5 million	6	54.55%
Strategic cuts resulting in reduction of public services - $23 million	1	9.09%
Significant reductions or elimination of non-critical services (i.e., libraries, economic development, senior citizens assistance) - $35.7 million	2	18.18%
Smaller reductions or elimination of non-critical services - $9.4 million	2	18.18%

4. Please indicate the top 3 expense areas you would reduce to help balance the 2011 budget. (Some areas have been grouped for the purpose of this survey.)
Answer	Count	Percentage
Police	2	18.18%
Fire	0	0.00%
Planning, zoning and development	0	0.00%
Libraries, parks, community centers, etc.	1	9.09%
Road construction, street repairs	0	0.00%
Facility maintenance	3	27.27%
City code enforcement, animal care and control	0	0.00%
Municipal court services	1	9.09%
Economic and community development programs	1	9.09%
Resident communication / customer service	2	18.18%
Administrative services - financial management, legal, human resources	8	72.73%
Pension contributions to City employees' retirement funds	5	45.45%
New vehicle purchases	10	90.91%

5. If you were in the City Manager's chair, what approach to increasing revenues would you take?
Answer	Count	Percentage
Across the board – consider property tax increase, reducing or eliminating homestead exemptions, using rainy day funds and gas well revenues. – up to $105 million	2	18.18%
Use only tax-related options that can be applied to both operating budget and debt service (funds would be ongoing, i.e. property tax increase, homestead elimination / reductions) – up to $39.2 million	1	9.09%
No tax increases. Use some or all of available rainy day funds, gas well revenues. (note: only available for one year) -- up to $66.4 million)	8	72.73%

6. Please indicate the top 3 revenue options you would consider to help balance the 2011 budget.
Answer	Count	Percentage
Raise property taxes by 2 cents	3	27.27%
Raise property taxes by 4 cents	0	0.00%
Reduce homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	1	9.09%
Eliminate homestead exemption (does not include senior tax freeze, over 65 or disabled)	0	0.00%
Use rainy day funds that exceed required reserve balances	10	90.91%
Use gas well revenue from property tax on minerals	7	63.64%
Use gas well revenue from bonuses, royalties and pipeline licenses	10	90.91%
Transportation user / developer impact fees	2	18.18%

7. Years you have lived in Fort Worth
Answer	Count	Percentage
0-10	2	18.18%
10-25	2	18.18%
25-40	3	27.27%
Over 40	4	36.36%