City of Concord Budget
Budget Challenges
Concord was faced with the toughest budget challenge in the City's history primarily due to declining revenues. Developing the Budget and 10-Year Plan for the FY 2010-2011 included a comprehensive public outreach effort consisting of seven "Living Within Our Means" workshops. The goal of the workshops was to elicit feedback from residents about their priorities for City services. In addition to workshops, two telephone surveys were conducted and an on-line survey was available on the City's website. Respondents to the outreach efforts identified maintaining public safety services (911 response time, gang prevention, police patrols) and preservation of the City's infrastructure (streets, storm drains, sewer, parks) as well as after-school and summer programs for youth and senior services including recreation and nutrition programs as service priorities.
Explaining the Adopted Budget
The City of Concord budget has several sections. The General Fund is the section of the budget that is most often discussed and is generally of most interest to residents. Concord's General Fund budget is over $70 million annually. Funds to pay for police services, parks and recreation, street and road maintenance, and all of the other day to day workings of the City are paid for from the General Fund.
General Fund Expenditures
The pie chart below shows how General Fund monies are proposed to be spent from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. This is the City's fiscal year.
General Fund Revenue
Revenue for the Concord's General Fund comes from many sources. The pie chart below shows revenue from the projected year ending June 30, 2011.
As you can see, the largest portion of revenue comes from sales tax. The City's "Buy Concord" campaign was developed to remind residents of the fact that when they purchase items in Concord, part of the sales tax paid on those items comes back to the City to pay for parks, street, roads, public facilities and many of the other amenities they enjoy.
Interesting facts about sales tax and property tax
Concord ultimately receives three quarters of a penny of the nine and one quarter cent sales tax paid on purchases made in Concord. The state receives six and one quarter cents. The remainder is divided among Contra Costa County, BART, Prop. 172 and the Contra Costa Transit Authority. Sales tax accounts for 34 percent of the city's general fund revenue.
In the recession of the early 1990s, the state diverted property tax funds intended for cities in order to balance the budget. As a result, today for every $100 a property owner pays, the City receives only $8.70. The balance goes to the state and county.
Total Budget
In addition to the General Fund, the City's budget also includes Special Revenue Funds, Debt Service Funds, Capital Projects, Enterprise Funds, Internal Service Funds, Fiduciary Funds and the budget for the Redevelopment Agency.
The total City budget for 2010-11 is $168,758,639.