Each year, the City of Raleigh determines its annual budget - a blueprint which outlines how the city plans to spend money in the coming year. The budget runs on a fiscal calendar - July 1 through June 30. Consequently, city employees are now in the midst of determining what services to fund and how much to fund them.
We are asking for your input. Please answer the following questions and suggest ideas of your own. Let us know the city services that are important to you and your family. Invite your neighbors, co-workers and other community members to participate, too! The more ideas, thoughts and questions we receive, the better our city’s budget will be!
The city doesn’t have unlimited funds. We can only spend what we take in. That means if you want to raise spending for, say, Police, another department will have less funding. What do you value the most? What programs do you want to see continued, expanded or eliminated? Remember, just because you don’t use a particular service or program offered by the city doesn’t mean that your neighbors or co-workers don’t use it or that you don’t benefit from it in a different way. Please, keep all that in mind as you decide what makes Raleigh a great place to live, work, play and grow a business.
Please let us know the top three services that you feel add the most value to the City of Raleigh. Why do you feel that way? Your answer to this question may be different than your answer to the first survey question.
Public Safety (Police, Fire, 911)
Leisure Services (Parks, Entertainment, Convention Center, etc.)
Public Transportation
Roads and Bridges
Water and Sewer
Commercial/Residential/Business Development
Solid Waste Services
General Government
Please vote for your three services that you feel the City of Raleigh should spend money on in FY 2013-2014.
Public Safety (Police, Fire, 911)
Leisure Services (Parks, Entertainment, Convention Center, etc.)
Public Transportation
Road and Bridge Repair
Water and Sewer
Commercial/Residential/Business Development
Solid Waste Services
Other
Sometimes residents feel that city programs or services aren't providing enough value. Are there any programs that you feel should be changed or discontinued? Why?
If we were to look at all City spending in the General Fund in FY2013 as being equal to $1, this is how the money would be broken out:
$0.38 Public Safety (Police, Fire, 911)
$0.12 Leisure Services
$0.12 Public Works & Public Transit
$0.11 Appropriation to Capital Debt* (money used to repay loans taken to finance big projects)
$0.08 General Government
$0.05 Community Development Services
$0.04 Information Technology
$0.03 Solid Waste Services (this is financed through user fees and charges but receives a subsidy from the General Fund)
$0.03 Financial Management
$0.03 Appropriation to Capital Program* (money set aside to pay for large City projects)
$0.01 External Agencies
*Fixed expenses that are allocated to finance major projects.
Now, if it were up to you, how would you choose to allocate the money? Remember, capital debt and capital program amounts have to stay the same as in FY13. Everything else can change.