FY 2014 Budget Memoranda

Budget Memoranda are used to respond to City Council questions and requests during the budget deliberation process. Budget Memoranda for the Fiscal Year 2014 budget process are listed below, sorted by category or type. For assistance searching topics of interest on this page, please use your internet browser’s "Find" function (typically by pressing CTRL+F on your keyboard). If you prefer reading the budget memos in their entirety in chronological order of when they were delivered to City Council, click the Sort by: Date Delivered link below.

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Sort by: Category | Date Delivered

Budget Process & Citywide Budget Issues

• Tax and Fee Rate Adjustments in the FY 2014 Proposed Budget
• Overview of the Proposed FY 2014-2023 Capital Improvement Program
• Detail of the FY 2014 Proposed Budget General Fund Reductions and Additions
• FY 2014 Reduction and Revenue Proposals Not Taken
• FY 2014 BFAAC Report
• Revenue Projections and Expenditure Adjustments
• Preliminary Add/Delete List
• Revised Add/Delete List and Tax Fee Burden Tables
• FY 2014 Final Budget Actions taken May 6, 2013

Responses to Council Questions by Topic

3-1-1 Number for Citizen Assistance

• What would be the fiscal impact of establishing a 3-1-1 number to provide access to Citizen Assistance (now Public Information)?

ACPS

• I would like to see if we could find a way to bring back "Titans Lounge" at TC Williams. It was an after-school program that the students liked. They used to gather in the cafeteria and do homework and just hang out together in a safe environment. Apparently pretty popular. It was cancelled a year ago I believe. I learned about it at my Gang Prevention Task Force meeting. So could you please find out how much that would cost?
• Headquarters Lease Space: When does the current lease expire? What is the annual least cost? How many staff are at the current location? What is the reasonable amount of space needed over the next 5-10 years?
• Summary of the ACPS School Board Adopted FY 2014 – 2023 CIP

Alexandria Fund for Human Services

• The proposed operating budget includes a 6.4% reduction in this Fund from the FY2013 approved level. How much has this Fund been cut in the past 5 years? Does the steady reduction in this Fund in recent years reflect a belief of City staff that the Fund is over-funded and should be reduced further over time? If so, please elaborate on the reasons for this belief. Doesn't the City plan to implement performance measures for Fund applicants in the near future? If so, shouldn't cuts be postponed until you have better criteria for determining how much and where to cut? Hasn't the City required Fund applicants to provide outcomes information for several years now?
• As in Budget Memo #3, I will be focused on reinstating the proposed 6% cut to the Human Services Fund. I cannot recall what that would cost, but given the ongoing economic downturn on Main Street in America, the work of our local nonprofits is as important as ever. I am very interested in the grant making process and that it needs to be a competitive system, what are the thoughts and plans?

Aquatics

• Provide additional information regarding the short and long term outlook for aquatics funding related to the 2012 Aquatics Facilities Study recommendations.
• Consider increasing Warwick Pool fees to fund continued operations.
• Could you please let us know how much it would be to keep the Warwick pool open this summer and how much for each of the next five years since Mr. Young said about $500K for five years? Just wanted to ask for that breakdown. How much of that cost is due to lifeguards for example?
• Please provide options for implementation of new and renovated aquatics facilities as determined by City Council’s priorities during the work session.
• What are some options for funding Aquatics Facilities based on Counci's discussion during the Preliminary Add/Delete work session?

Capital Bikeshare

• What are the expansion options for Capital Bikeshare, and what would be the fiscal impact of doing so?
• Is it possible to pay a portion of the 70k for Bikeshare or is it all or none?
• Please provide additional information on the prooposed adjustments to the FY2014-2023 Transportation Improvement Program.

Capital Improvement Program (CIP)

• Overview of the Proposed FY 2014-2023 Capital Improvement Program
• What are the estimated planned maintenance cost avoidance and reduced energy costs of the City Hall HVAC and Infrastructure Replacement Project, and the project’s relationship to a potential Citywide municipal fiber network project?
• Why don't we have a stand-alone CIP project for the Arlandria Plan infrastructure improvements? We have stand-alone projects for Waterfront, Landmark, Braddock, etc.” It seems as though we could deal better with the questions we get around Arlandria Plan implementation with one project in the CIP that shows existing funding, future developer funding, and unfunded efforts. Is that possible?
• Please provide a summary of the ACPS School Board Adopted FY 2014 – 2023 CIP.
• Please provide additional information on the prooposed adjustments to the FY2014-2023 Transportation Improvement Program.

City Marina

• What would be the revenue and expense impact of offering City Marina Slip Holders the option of purchasing an overnight parking permit for a City garage along with their annual Slip renewal?

City Vehicles

• Could you provide more information and the financial impact of "Reducing fuel usage and cost through take home policy" in the Internal Services cluster of Budget Memo #7?
• What is the cost of city-owned vehicles that are driven by staff? What would that save to reduce that expenditure?

Child Care Services

• The proposed budget provides the funding necessary for 750 children to receive child-care services. At that funding level, what is the estimate waiting list? What would be the cost of clearing that waiting list?
• A follow-up on the Pre-School/Early Childhood answer: Does the allocation of additional funds allow us to draw-down VPI (Virginia Preschool Initiative) funds? If yes, how much? Do those additional funds enable us to provide services to more children?
• Is the City still funding Childcare Fee Subsidies for children? There is $2.6 million proposed in the FY14 budget “to provide financial assistance with child care services to income eligible families to allow parents to work or to attend a school or education program leading to employment. It was our understanding that the Commonwealth took over this responsibility in fiscal 2013 – with the exception of funding for associated local caseworkers and staff, and a small share of TANF and Transitional Assistance.

Child Safety Seats

• What would be the fiscal impact of training a few City employees to assist parents with child safety seat installation?

Contingent Reserves

• Please provide a status of FY 2013 contingent reserves and its impact on FY 2014.

Crosswalks and Other Complete Street Projects

• How much do high-visibility thermoplastic and reflective crosswalks cost?
• How does this cost compare with the cost of other Complete Streets improvements, such as new sidewalks, curb ramps, regular crosswalks, brick-pattern and colored crosswalks, countdown signals, flashing signals, lighted crosswalks, and traffic-calming features like speed tables, bulb outs and medians?
• Did you already prioritize certain crosswalks, like high-visibility crosswalks, in recent budgeting?
• If you received additional funds for Complete Streets, how would you prioritize how to spend those funds?
• Could you spend a substantial portion of additional funds on high-visibility crosswalks and, if so, can you identify where those funds would likely be spent?
• Do you expect to apply for additional federal grants for Complete Streets projects, such as through the Safe Routes to Schools program?

DASH Bus

• I realize that this would be up to the DASH board, but now that we have a few more funds, what would it cost to keep the bus fares at $1.50, rather than increase the fares to $1.60?

DCHS

• What are the solution/plan/impacts of the domestic violence social worker position going away?
• Would the recent reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act assist the Department of Community and Human Services with grants that could help support that domestic violence social worker? A crucial position indeed. I see that the department has an LGBTQ coordinator, and there are specific provisions in the new act that apply to services for LGBTQ individuals. If there is a possible federal grant that would save our city those dollars, I would love to see us get that grant and thereby retain this critical personnel.
• What is the impact of the reduction in the DCHS Bullying Prevention Coordinator position?
• I would like to look at what would the financial impact be of taking the responsibilities of JobLink and have an outside non-profit run the employment services programs.
• How much would it cost to add Saturday, Sunday and holiday service for Meals on Wheels?
• To what extend does the domestic violence social worker at the Police Department duplicate the work performed by the Domestic Violence Intervention Specialist in the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney? Or duplicate work done by the Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Services Division of DCHS? To what extent is each of them able to access police records?
• Based on Council's discussion at the Preliminary Add/Delete work session, what is Impact of JobLink Reductions?
• Please provide clarification on the child day care fee system waiting list based on Council's discussion at the Preliminary Add/Delete work session.

Environment

• Do we have a similar issue with our CMAQ/RSTP allocation, or is this an issue only affecting Tidewater?

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program

• Alexandria is currently assessed a rating class of 7 in the Community Rating System for FEMA's National Flood Insurance Program. This class determines the level of discounts available to Alexandria residents purchasing Flood Insurance. What options exist for reducing Alexandria's rating class, and what would be the fiscal impact of those options?

Fire

• Please explain the alternative options proposed and considered for reduction by the Alexandria Fire Department and Public Safety cluster and the reasons why they were not chosen.
• What would be the estimated fiscal impact of “refinancing” the start-up costs currently being paid down within the Public Safety Defined Benefit Pension Plan?
• Please provide more information regarding the City's current Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) equipment condition.
• (CIP 10-28 – CIP 10-32) Each of the proposed Fire Station renovation projects has been delayed by one year pending a reassessment of the provision of these services. What is the timetable for that reassessment?

Grants

• How are grants administered? What is the impact of the 6%?
• Please determine the total impact (dollar wise) of the 5% reduction for CDBG, HOME, HOPWA and ESG grants/programs. How will DCHS/Housing respond to these cuts in revenue?

Head Start Program

• Is the Head Start program, in fact, slated to receive the $203,448 increase proposed in the FY14 budget? In speaking with The Campagna Center, they believe this may be an error.

Health Insurance

• What is the estimated savings/cost by combining the ACPS/City Self-Insurance risk pool for health insurance?
• What is the estimated savings by eliminating one of the health insurance providers - and consolidating with a single provider?
• Please provide information about the proposed health care plan design changes included in the FY 2014 Proposed budget.

Housing

• The affordable housing plan for the Beauregard Area includes a City position for a master relocation coordinator. At a work session, staff indicated that this coordinator would have their hands full with the Beauregard efforts and wouldn't be able to help renters elsewhere in the City relocate if faced with condo conversion plans, dramatic rent increases, etc. Didn't the City used to have a relocation coordinator, until recently? What were his/her duties and how much did that position cost the City? Why was the position terminated?
• If we were to hire a full-time position for Beauregard what would be the duties and why is it needed now. Please address the issue of using affordable housing funds to pay for people?
• I understand that both Arlington and Washington, DC provide "shallow" rent subsidies to protect Alexandrians from being displaced by sharp rent increases. How much do these jurisdictions spend on these programs? What is Arlington recommending for this program in their current budget?
• If we set aside an additional .6 cents for affordable housing, are there target properties that we could use that money for this year?
• Is it correct that Council could decide to utilize some of the 1.5 cent advertised real estate tax rate increase (i.e., the amount above the 2.5 cent increase needed to fund the City Manager’s base budget) to help accelerate the implementation of the Proposed Beauregard Affordable Housing Plan? The attached recently provided memo to the planning commission discusses the finances of the Beauregard Affordable Housing Plan.
• Please determine the total impact (dollar wise) of the 5% reduction for CDBG, HOME, HOPWA and ESG grants/programs. How will DCHS/Housing respond to these cuts in revenue?
• I also understand that Arlington has established special affordable housing districts under Title 36 (?) of the U.S. Code. How does this work and what are some of the cost and policy considerations with it?
• What is the status of the Housing Trust Fundd and the number of households qualifying for affordable housing?

Libraries

• How much to pay for the books and materials that the Library Board has requested?
• Could you please let us know how much it would cost to keep the two hours that we may lose at the libraries?

Living Wage Adjustment

• What would it cost to provide a living wage adjustment in the budget?

Life Insurance

• I thought life insurance for retirees was terminated around FY07. Am I mistaken or was it restored or are these grandfathered retirees? If it is an ongoing program: The primary purpose of life insurance is to protect families against the loss of breadwinners. The premium schedule for term life insurance policies reflects that they are not intended for retirees. What is the rationale? Is it a kind of retirement annuity by another name and, if so, shouldn't it be characterized as such?

Northern Virginia Gang Task Force

• The proposed budget includes $25,000 to provide Alexandria’s share of the lost Federal funds to maintain administrative and support staff for the Northern Virginia Gang Task Force. What existing resources support the Task Force? What results have been achieved through Alexandria’s involvement with this Task Force?

Parking Meters

• What would be the revenue impact from amending City Code to operate parking meters on Sundays?
• Could T&ES put together some other areas where parking meters can be installed? Maybe Mt. Vernon Ave? Further extension on Washington St.? etc?

Pensions and Retirement Benefits

• What would be the estimated fiscal impact of “refinancing” the start-up costs currently being paid down within the Public Safety Defined Benefit Pension Plan?

Planning and Zoning

• What is the need for an additional Urban Planner III, as proposed in the City Manager’s FY 2014 Budget, in the development division for the Department of Planning and Zoning?

Police

• What would be the estimated fiscal impact of “refinancing” the start-up costs currently being paid down within the Public Safety Defined Benefit Pension Plan?
• What is the cost of training one new police officer--from hire until the officer has completed Field Training?
• What are the solution/plan/impacts of the domestic violence social worker position going away?
• Would the recent reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act assist the Department of Community and Human Services with grants that could help support that domestic violence social worker? A crucial position indeed. I see that the department has an LGBTQ coordinator, and there are specific provisions in the new act that apply to services for LGBTQ individuals. If there is a possible federal grant that would save our city those dollars, I would love to see us get that grant and thereby retain this critical personnel.
• 1. Would you provide more details about the Budget Memo #7 item (not included in the budget proposal) on reducing the Community Policing program by $619,728?  2. The operating budget proposal (p. 14-37) mentions the elimination of five vacant sworn police officer positions for a saving of $442,660. Would you please indicate where those positions are---in patrol?  3. How many other current police officer positions are vacant, where are they, and how much do they cost?  4. Hasn't major crime dropped by about 2/3 in the last 20 years? How much has police patrol FTEs increased in that time period? And overall Police Department FTEs?  5. Is there a professional standard for response time and number of units responding and, if so, don't we easily exceed that standard?
• To what extend does the domestic violence social worker at the Police Department duplicate the work performed by the Domestic Violence Intervention Specialist in the Office of the Commonwealth's Attorney? Or duplicate work done by the Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence Services Division of DCHS? To what extent is each of them able to access police records?

Potomac Yard Metrorail Station

• (Operating 7-9) The proposed budget indicates that that “City Council has approved legislation to set aside all appreciation on real estate in Potomac Yard to support Metrorail development.” Wasn’t the adopted plan to set aside net new tax revenues LESS the amount needed to serve the properties (40% new residential, 83% new office, 87% of new retail, 94% of new hotel)?

Recreations, Parks and Cultural Activities

• Could you please let us know how much it would be to keep the Warwick pool open this summer and how much for each of the next five years since Mr. Young said about $500K for five years? Just wanted to ask for that breakdown. How much of that cost is due to lifeguards for example?
•  Provide additional information regarding the short and long term outlook for aquatics funding related to the 2012 Aquatics Facilities Study recommendations.
• Can I get the last renovation dates for the playgrounds proposed for renovation in FY 2014/2015/2016?
• What existing fields are the candidates envisioned for conversion to artificial turf in FY 2017/FY 2018, and what would be the fiscal impact of advancing one of those projects to FY 2014?
• In the event that a qualifying non-profit youth sports league offers a partial or complete registration scholarship to a child meeting ACPS Free/Reduced Lunch Criteria, what would be the fiscal impact of offering a 50% abatement of the field use fee assessed to the league for those youth?
• Please provide additional information regarding Del Ray Citizens Association’s (DRCA) request for funding to complete the East Del Ray Avenue Park.
• What is the financial impact of having a sliding scale for recreation classes?
• Consider increasing Warwick Pool fees to fund continued operations.
• Can you add more information about the costs to continue the work on the burial grounds at Fort Ward? What are the next steps, and the breakdown of the costs for the next steps? Please add as a budget memo.
• Please provide options for implementation of new and renovated aquatics facilities as determined by City Council’s priorities during the work session.
• What are some options for funding Aquatics Facilities based on Counci's discussion during the Preliminary Add/Delete work session?

SBDC Services

• What would be the fiscal impact of including an introduction package from the Small Business Development Center in a mailing to the holder of each newly issued Business License? What other options do we have to improve awareness and usage of SBDC services and what would they cost?

Sidewalks

• What would be the cost to repair the brick sidewalks in Old Town?

Solid Waste/Refuse

• What are the options and fiscal impact of potential changes to our Trash and Recycling services?

Taxes and Fees

• What is City’s philosophy to user-fees, specifically building code review and entitlement process development review fees?
• Please provide some additional tax alternatives for consideration in the FY2014 budget.

Transit Store

• As we discussed last night, what is the cost of the Transit Store, and could it be merged with an existing entity at our Union Station or at Metro or at City Hall? What does that store cost us now, and what would it save to merge it with something else? Does it require its own storefront?

Transportation

• New VDOT Payment Data Collection Analysis Results

VPI Funding

• In the current fiscal year, did the City of Alexandria pull down all of the VPI funding it was allotted by the Commonwealth? If not, what was the amount allotted for FY13; how much was pulled down by Alexandria; and, how much was left on the table and why? Also, I recall that a key reason the City transferred management of VPI to ACPS last year was so that we could maximize the City's ability to pull down all of the state funding allotted for VPI? If this recollection is correct, has this strategy been successful? If not, why?

 

• FY 2014 Proposed Operating and Capital Budgets
• FY 2014 Budget Calendar & Resources
• FY 2014 Budget Memoranda by Date
• FY 2013 Approved Operating and Capital Budgets
• Budget Archives
• Prior Fiscal Year Budget Memoranda
• ACPS Budget Information

• Managing for Results Initiative
• Alexandria's Strategic Plan