(Miami, FL) Mayor Manny Diaz presented his Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Preliminary Budget before the City Commission during the First Budget Hearing on Thursday, September 10, 2009.  The budget addresses a decrease in revenues while working to maintain essential services for the residents of the City of Miami without increasing the millage rate or utilizing the General Fund Balance. Through a difficult process, the Administration has identifies $118 million in savings to achieve a balanced budget and cover the preliminary shortfall in its General Fund.

“Sacrifices must be made. The question we must answer is who should make these sacrifices,” said Mayor Diaz. “Today we have a choice: we can continue to use the people’s money to feed the appetite of the bureaucratic beast, or we can remember that we are public servants, and put the interest of people first.”

Highlights of the Mayor’s proposed budget:

-          Proposed budget of $511.4 million, a decrease of $13.7 million, or 2.7%, from the FY 2009 adopted budget.

-          Proposed millage rate remains at 7.6740 mills.

-          Decrease of 572, or 16%, in total number of approved fulltime positions, for a savings of close to $40 million.

-          Across the board reductions of close to 16% in all of the departments, including the complete elimination of several departments, resulting in a savings of close to $45 million.

-          Tiered salary reductions across all departments ranging from 6% to 15%, resulting in close to $22 million in savings.

-          Additional reductions in expenses and increases in various fees result in close to $11 million in income and savings.

Mayor Diaz’s Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2010 can be viewed at http://www.miamigov.com/Budget/pages/budget_books/FY10_Book_Proposed.pdf

Mayor Diaz’s remarks can be viewed at http://www.miamigov.com/cms/mayor/