The City’s budget is divided into two principal categories – an operating budget called the General Fund, and a collection of funds that make up the capital budget. The General Fund is the largest portion of the City’s budget and covers most of the administrative and services portion of City government. The largest expense within the General Fund is the City’s contract with
Pierce
County
to provide police services. The General Fund also includes funding for the City Council, City Manager, City Attorney, the City’s computers and information systems, Finance, UPTV, recreation services, and street maintenance services. The General Fund is funded primarily by sales tax, property tax, the utility tax and fees & charges.
The City’s Capital Budget covers infrastructure improvements (“Capital Projects”), such as funding for new parks, sidewalks, street lights, major road improvements and other capital facilities. Between 1996 and 2004, the City invested an average over $5 million per year primarily in street in traffic improvements, sidewalks, park land acquisition, park development and numerous storm drainage improvement projects to address significant, long-standing flooding issues in many neighborhoods. Most of these funds were derived from leveraging limited City tax dollars with federal, state and voter-approved financing. The City also has historically contributed General Fund dollars to the capital budget.
The City Council’s General Fund contribution to the Capital Budget has resulted in new park land and makes dramatic improvements in the look of our community and the safety of our roadways. As resources have declined, the City has been forced to redirect resources away from new improvements to simply maintaining our existing infrastructure and funding essential services. Beginning in 2007, available ongoing capital revenue will decline significantly. Once we have completed the few remaining projects on this year’s work plan, the City will only have $250,000 annually to invest in new projects.
For more information:
Contact Christina Smith, ICMA/LGMF Program Fellow, by phone at (253) 460-2514 or by email at CSmith@cityofup.com.
The Town Center District is a mixed-use area that encompassses properties along Bridgeport, between 35th Street and 44th Street. The district is envisioned as a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, supporting retail, housing, office and recreational uses.
The Town Center Project is a proposed mixed-use development within the Town Center District, along Bridgeport between 35th Street and 37th Street. The project will include over 250,000 square feet of new stores and restaurants and up to 420 new high-quality residential units, including condos, townhomes and lofts.
The Town Center Project was, in many ways, born out of necessity. Faced with declining General Fund revenue as a result of several voter initiatives and a general decline in the economy, the City Council embarked on an aggressive economic development plan. While the Project is designed to help achieve a community vision of a pedestrian-oriented focal point and gathering spot for the community, it also has the equally important goal of generating new revenue to offset General Fund revenue losses. It is not anticipated that the revenue generated by the Town Center Project will be sufficient to both support the General Fund and offset reductions in the City’s Capital Budget.
For more information:
Contact Eric Faison, Community & Governmental Affairs Manager, by phone at (253) 460-5443 or by email at EFaison@cityofup.com.