City spending: Don’t go hog wild

For all the citizens of Santa Fe who want a bigger say in how the city spends their tax dollars, the time is now. The process of developing the 2017-18 city budget is taking place, and citizens need to speak, or if not, forever hold their peace, at least complain a little less loudly as city business is conducted. Because if they don’t speak up, they shouldn’t complain later.

To put the budget together, city leaders are conducting hearings. The first budget hearing took place on Tuesday, with two more scheduled for Thursday and Friday this week. Citizens can read the budget themselves at www.santafenm. gov/opengov.com, then click on Annual View to see what is being discussed. Additional Finance Committee budget hearings begin at 9 a.m. Thursday and Friday, in the City Council Chambers. This is a department by department persual of revenues and spending; agendas can be found online at www.santafenm.gov/weekly_meeting_list__agendas.

The big news is that, unlike the state, the city of Santa Fe appears to be in decent financial shape, with a $15 million surplus projected next year. That’s encouraging considering just a year or so ago, the city faced a deficit of $15 million. That’s a $30 million change of fortune, achieved through a stronger economy, fee increases and strategic cuts.

We’d encourage city leaders to proceed with caution. Swings that large seem a tad suspicious, and despite what city finance experts see as a 2 percent growth rate projected for gross receipts taxes, now is not the time to spend all the money. The state’s budget crisis could spill over to local governments. President Donald Trump is threatening the federal appropriations of sanctuary cities such as Santa Fe; we need to be ready to make up federal grants, if necessary. Plus, Trump’s travel bans and general belligerence to the world could impact foreign tourism, which could mean fewer visitors to the U.S. and Santa Fe. A lot remains uncertain, which is why committing to recurring expenses is not always the best path forward.

That said, City Manager Brian Snyder has the right priorities for expanded spending. He’s proposing to spend another $3.1 million; that includes $300,000 for on-call street repairs and maintenance and $200,000 to hire seasonal workers to better maintain the parks and medians. Such spending on the basics is to be applauded.

The total city budget of $399 million overall is 3 percent larger than this year, while the $89.9 million general fund budget, which pays for day-to-day running of the city, is about 7 percent larger. Still undecided are what, if any, raises will be carved out for city employees. Mayor Javier Gonzales has suggested 5 percent raises for everyone; we’d like to see a smaller recurring raise and perhaps one-time bonuses for workers who make up the backbone of the city workforce. Give more to those who need it most, in other words.

Shadowing the discussion of city finances, of course, has to be the May 2 special election in which city voters will decide if they want a 2-cents-an-ounce tax on sugary drinks to finance pre-K. Supporters will have to explain why a special tax is needed when the city appears to be swimming in money.

As all of this is debated, we hope city leaders also will look to find ways to return some of that money to the folks paying the bills. We don’t favor lowering water rates — they are high for a reason, and that’s to promote conservation — but would like to see the city consider programs to give back money, perhaps once a year, to users who conserve or who bring down their bills. Revisit the controversial parking rates and consider ways to give downtown shoppers and visitors a break. Just because the money is there does not mean the city should spend all of it, especially in recurring spending that might need to be cut given another economic shock.

Still, Santa Fe has much to be proud of with the proposed budget. Leaders took a deficit, made tough choices and now appear to have more than enough money to pay for necessary services — and that’s in contrast to many cities and counties across New Mexico. Start talking, Santa Fe, so that this budget reflects citizen priorities. Otherwise, there will be no one to blame but yourselves.