Anderson maintains 16% reserve

While other government entities in Shasta County continue to hack huge chunks out of their general fund budgets this year, Anderson is retaining a reserve of more than 16 percent and cutting just two part-time positions this next budget year.

Nearing the end of his 11th year as Anderson's city manager, Scott Morgan presented his sixth two-year budget to the council Tuesday, May 19, during the last of five budget workshops.

Former mayor Keith Webster went through the 2009-2011 budget with a fine-tooth comb during the 75-minute workshop but found only $8,300 that could be whittled out of the nearly $5.4 million general fund.

And the lion's share - a $6,000 subsidy of the Anderson Chamber of Commerce - of those trimmed expenditures was simply transferred to the expense side of the city's Redevelopment Agency ledger.

During the past two years, Morgan and the five-member council have cut a total of three managers, three police officers and five full- or part-time positions from the city's roster of 72 employees.

Most of those positions were left vacant when people either retired or otherwise left the city's employ, Morgan noted.

The most recent position targeted for termination at the end of June is a part-time Public Safety Records Clerk in the Anderson Police Department, Morgan noted.

However, using Department of Justice grant funding and federal economic stimulus funds, Police Chief Dale Webb is hoping, if the grant is approved, to fund an entry-level, full-time police officer for three years.

The city's Parks and Recreation Department replaced a full-time secretary's position with a half-time position to make the other position cut.

With revenues continuing to decline, Anderson officials trimmed $103,367 or 1.8 percent off the budget that ends June 30.

"In proposing a reduced, balanced general fund budget for 2009-2010, the City Council's adopted policy goal of maintaining a general fund balance of between 15 percent and 20 percent of expenditures is met," Morgan announced, calling the 16.2 percent reserve a "prudent cushion given the risks cities and counties are facing."

The council set a public hearing for June 2 prior to taking action on the city manager's proposed budget.