KEN KREFFT
The City of Shreveport collects various taxes, fees, assessments, fines and other items which generate revenue to its coffers. By far the greatest of these deposited into the general fund is the 2.75% sakes tax.
The general fund is that from which most personal services costs like salaries, health care and retirement contributions are paid, as well as supplies, materials and much equipment. Sales taxes are budgets at about 57% of total general fund receipts.
At midyear its total collections are $60,391,000 compared to $62,620,041 in 2019. These figures reflect a 3.6% decrease as of June 30.
A host of budget ordinances was necessary to adjust the many city funds and fund transfers, significantly altering the budgets approved last December.
OK, so we’re down. However, it is not all gloom and doom when one recalls just weeks ago a scarier scenario. Much depends on the next six months.
Can we assume we’ll bounce back? If so, when? By Thanksgiving? By Christmas?
The administration is underway with its 2021 budgetary preparations. It must estimate all debits and credits for the latter part of this year and for all of next. A tricky venture fraught with uncertainties.
For example, will Congress and the president approve bailout dollars for states and cities? Will our local economy return to pre-pandemic activity? Will consumers’ confidence persuade them to a more typical level of spending?
A very conservative approach to 2021 general fund appropriations is in order. On the plus side, we do expect both a new class of police and fire recruits this fall.
There was discussion several weeks ago that those recruit classes might fall back to next year. We’ve had no mandatory furloughs.
THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE July 10 ISSUE OF FOCUS SB - THE INQUISITOR.