Government > City Departments/Offices > Office of the Mayor > Administration’s budget assessment: Spending must be cut

The Cohen Administration reports the city government faces a $2.6 million structural deficit in the current fiscal year that ends June 30 and a $6.4 million structural deficit for fiscal year 2011.

During the Jan. 21 presentation at a City Council work session, Chief Administrative Officer Doug Smith and Finance Director Tim Elliott laid out the key contributors to the city’s deficit: increased salaries and benefits, excessive hiring, the creation of programs, added debt service and the recession.

Mr. Smith and Mr. Elliott reiterated Mayor Cohen's message that the city will not raise taxes to address the shortfall. Rather, the city will cut spending - meaning some program or services will have to go - to bring the budget back into balance. Catch a portion of Mr. Smith's presentation below on YouTube.

What programs or services are essential to maintaining the quality of life in Annapolis? What are others that, in less prosperous times, we must consider reducing or eliminating?

Read the mayor’s blog post on the budget deficit … and comment. 
Share your thoughts on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Contact the Mayor and the Aldermen.
Review the summary of the administration’s quarterly budget report.