Lots of "assumptions" (formerly known as budget items) to be reconsidered in next city budget – note that RDA funds support six city staff

Excerpts from the summary of the staff report for the March 29 city council meeting:

General Fund: Revenue estimates for the General Fund based on the assumptions described herein are $36,866,392. Expenditure estimates based on the assumptions and departmental requests are $38,024,251 which would result in an imbalance of $1,157,859 without implementing additional cost reduction measures. The primary reason for the imbalance is the inclusion of $700,000 in unanticipated cost increases for pensions, health insurance, emergency communications and cemetery maintenance. Budget review meetings conducted by the City Manager’s budget review team and each department has identified reduction strategies primarily associated with vacant positions and organizational restructuring that will reduce expenditures to the point of achieving a balanced budget.

Redevelopment Funds: As expressed previously herein, detailed discussion of redevelopment is impacted by the State budget and the Governor’s proposed elimination of redevelopment agencies. The April 5 Council/Redevelopment Board agenda will include discussion of the RDA bond. Further discussion of RDA operating funds should be delayed until alternatives proposed by the League and California Redevelopment Association are considered. However, if the State proposal to eliminate redevelopment agencies is implemented, up to six staff could face layoffs since the funding to support the positions would not be available and the General Fund cannot be a source for the backfill at the present time.

Click here to read the entire staff report (be patient while the page loads).

Question: With $6 million in the pot, and only the Casa del Sol project to show for it, what have the six city staff (RDA) positions been doing for the RDA?