I am playing with a new (for me) chart plug-in. (Thanks Mac.) [easychart type=”line” width=”420″ title=”City of DeKalb Projected vs. Actual GF Revenues” groupnames=”Budgeted Revenues, Actual Revenues” valuenames=”2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011″ group1values=”27393755, 28720371, 30001151, 29663013, 28587803″ group2values=”26629206, 28489576, 28983224, 28434217, 29955121″ minaxis=”25000000″] Related posts: City of DeKalb Revenue Projections Public Safety Costs & DeKalb’s…
Tag: budget
Public Safety Costs & DeKalb’s Financial Health
In last Thursday’s post I shared some preliminary observations about the latest contract between the City of DeKalb and the firefighters’ union. Since then I’ve gotten a little feedback on it behind the scenes. The gist of the response is this: What’s the deal? Does yinn have something against well-compensated public employees? The short answer…
Thoughts on Property and Sales Taxes in DeKalb, and Where We Go from Here
The City of DeKalb is close to setting its property tax levy for the year. It is requesting the same amount as last year. I read in the paper that 2nd Ward Alderman Tom Teresinski is saying we will pay the same amount in property taxes as last year because even though the rate will…
DeKalb’s Pension Rebound & Tax Games
This is a belated response to a November 12 story in the Daily Chronicle, “Police, fire pensions reportedly on rebound”. Instead of posting here at the time, I sent a letter to the editor. Three days later I still haven’t heard back. The article makes it clear the City of DeKalb Finance Division knew all…
Addressing Media Coverage of the DeKalb’s Latest “Surplus”
The Daily Chronicle is irritating me this week. DeKALB – It wasn’t long ago that DeKalb had only a $22,000 surplus in the general fund. Now, with the Fiscal Year 2011 audit almost complete, city officials say they are looking at a $6.3 million surplus. The DeKalb City Council on Monday will be asked to…
DeKalb’s Ratio of Debt Service to General Fund Expenditures
Once again I am pulling from DeKalb’s Debt Management Policy. This time it’s a limit on debt service expenditures as a percentage of General Fund expenditures. 3. Ratio of Annual Debt Service to General Fund Expenditures The formula for this computation is annual debt service expenditures divided by General Fund expenditures (excluding certain interfund transfers).…
How Close I Came in Estimating the VSP Payout Breakdown
I recently asked a City of DeKalb employee in the Finance Division how accrued payroll was accounted for in the budget and was told it is reflected in regular payroll line items (e.g., 8101, 8102). I was in despair that there apparently wasn’t a “clean” number reflecting just the separation payouts. Then I accidentally discovered…
On the Trail of the Legendary Comp Time Monster
Behold my latest puzzle: [table id=41 /]
Oh, So Very Balanced
While the City of DeKalb touts balanced General Fund budgets, deficits in other funds are growing. [table id=23 /]
City of DeKalb Revenue Projections
As we saw in the previous post, DeKalb has had a difficult time coming to terms with population loss since 2007. It’s not difficult to see why: a “grow or die” mentality, a downtown beautification plan at stake, an $88.5 million high school to justify, and so forth. But before we go any further, let’s…