Phase 2 of Folsom budget cuts includes department shuffle

Folsom officials approved another budget cutback last week by reshuffling departments, resulting in $2.3 million saved for the next fiscal year. Facing a $3 million budget deficit, the City Council cut 20 mostly vacant jobs in Phase One budget cutbacks last month, resulting in $3.1 million saved. Last week, the council approved Phase Two reductions, resulting in another $2 million-plus expected savings, officials said. City Manager Bryan Whitemyer had each department form a plan to cut annual costs by focusing on core competencies, organizational efficiencies, other income sources and potential service level reductions. The council approved Phase One cuts for savings of $3.1 million for this fiscal year and ongoing full-year savings of $3.7 million for 2026-27. Phase Two estimated cost savings roughly total $1.1 for this year and $2.3 million for next fiscal year, staff said. The Phase One cost savings reflect staff reductions in the Fire Department, Police, Finance/IT Department, Attorney's office and library. Phase Two measures include reorganization of services and staffing of the Community Development, Parks and Recreation, Public Works and Utilities departments. The savings include improved use of special revenue funds, staff said. The reorganization of engineering-related services reflects several weeks of coordination and collaboration among the four departments, said Whitemyer. Ultimately, the four directors agreed on a reorganization, then worked on reshuffling resources in each department. Notable changes include: · Community Development will refocus efforts on planning services for development activity and community building, maximize efficiencies and cost recovery for building services including code enforcement, and focus development engineering for private property with improved collaboration with Public Works. · Parks & Recreation will continue to oversee parks, open space, trails and municipal landscapes with a focus on planning and delivery of capital projects with Public Works. The department will consider improved cost recovery for recreation facilities and programs, as well as strengthen community partnerships. · Public Works will focus on delivery of capital projects, transportation planning and traffic engineering, public property improvement and stormwater management. The department will have improved collaboration with Community Development related to private property development and public improvements as well as with Parks and Recreation on capital project support. · Besides waterworks, EWR will be expanded to a broader Utilities Department to include other funded utility services (solid waste and recycling) and fleet services. Whitemyer said the budget cuts have "not been a fun time," especially during Phase One cutbacks that included laying off dedicated employees. "As we look to the future, we've focused on cost recovery, we've been focused on how we close the budget deficit. I think it's important to highlight what Folsom does. We are a service delivery organization. Our employees, our people are the most important aspects of what we do," said Whitemyer. The City Council unanimously approved the Phase 2 measures Oct. 14.