Durango City Manager Ron LeBlanc said a “record number” residents showed up Thursday at City Hall for a preliminary budget meeting with a collective wish list for municipal spending.
More than half of the two dozen residents asked LeBlanc to consider a request for renewed or additional expenditures to support city department initiatives and operations and local and regional nonprofits. LeBlanc said it was the most attendees he’s ever seen at a preliminary budget meeting in Durango. No more than four people ever attended, he said; 24 people were there Thursday.
Three former Durango mayors, the mayor of Cortez and a Bayfield trustee addressed Durango administrators who are preparing to draft the 2020 budget. Representatives from Local First, the Durango Public Library and the Durango Business Improvement District each suggested the city consider different priorities.
No city councilors attended the meeting, as noted by at least one attendee.
Budget requests from residents included:
Funding for a pedestrian bridge across the Animas River and 32nd Street in north Durango.Renewal of a purchase agreement with Local First to provide employees with coupon books.Rejoining the Southwest Council of Governments.Dedicating a half percent of General Fund revenue for two years to support a Creative District.Increasing library staff and service hours to meet pre-Great Recession levels.Addressing climate change and educating the community about its potential impacts.Returning the city’s investments in local nonprofits – which were reduced this year by 40% – to 2018 levels. Funding to hire a seasonal bear and trash officer.Continuing support of the Business Improvement District’s ambassador program.“There is not enough money to go around for everything, so it’s going to be a challenge,” LeBlanc said from the dais. “... Keep doing what you’re doing because your voice is important.”
Thursday’s meeting is the city’s first official step toward deciding how to spend taxpayer, ratepayer and grant dollars next year. The typical first step is adopting City Council goals, but after meeting for four days, elected officials have yet to reach full consensus.
The deadline for city department directors to submit proposed budgets to management is Friday, LeBlanc said. The submitted budgets are then compared with estimated revenues for the upcoming year. Any money not accounted for in department budgets could be used for any one of the many resident requests.
The City Council goals, once adopted, will help city management prioritize spending, including as it relates to residents’ requests.
Residents have until Aug. 28 to submit further suggestions for the 2020 budget, which can be sent to the City Manager at 949 East Second Ave. or emailed to citymanager@durangogov.org.
Between now and then, city staff plan to craft a draft document and work the numbers to meet the needs and desires of residents and council while also keeping the budget balanced.
City management is scheduled to present a proposed budget to City Council on Oct. 1. Council is scheduled for a public hearing on the budget Nov. 5, at which time residents will be given another opportunity to advise city spending. The budget is scheduled for adoption Dec. 3.
bhauff@durangoherald.com
