Protect services now — without a permanent $14.5M tax hike

This page summarizes a practical alternative: consolidate Internal Service Funds (ISFs) into the General Fund to stabilize services immediately—no loans, no new taxes.

Budget Snapshot — Where the money is

Figures rounded; sourced from City budget materials. This is a placeholder summary for community review.

Alternative Budget — What to do

• Close the ISFs and transfer all balances, revenues, and expenses to the General Fund.
• ISFs are not legally required; councils can reorganize by ordinance with counsel review.
• Injects about $6.6M into the General Fund—offsetting the $6M in proposed cuts if the levy fails.
• No payback: this reallocates existing cash; it is not a loan or new debt.

Why this first

• Protects services immediately without layoffs.
• Improves transparency by simplifying how core costs are funded.
• Buys 12–24 months to plan a targeted, time‑limited measure if truly needed.

FAQ

Is this legal? Yes. ISFs are a policy choice, not a legal mandate. Many cities fund IT, fleet, insurance, and HR directly from the General Fund.

Will costs be hidden? No. The City can keep line‑item transparency by using reporting categories within the General Fund.

What happens next? Council would pass an ordinance, finance would close ISFs and transfer balances, and departments would budget those costs directly.

Downloads

• Budget Talking Point Charts (PPTX)

Add more docs later (e.g., ordinance draft, timeline, FAQs). This site is a temporary placeholder.