Herald
Englewood 9-6-2013
Englewood
September 6, 2013
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A Colorado Community Media Publication
ourenglewoodnews.com
Arapahoe County, Colorado • Volume 93, Issue 29
City faces budget challenges for 2014 Councilmembers weigh idea of seeking tax hike By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com
Pink water flowing in the Englewood Civic Center fountain and pink ribbons adorning trees around the city will appear in September in support of the project promoting breast cancer awareness. “The city is turning the water in the fountain pink on Sept. 7 and we’ll begin tying the ribbons on trees about Sept. 9,” said Rosemarie Cabral, head of the project. “This is the sixth year the Greater Englewood Chamber of Commerce has sponsored the go-pink project. A lot of the businesses are supporting by decorating windows in pink, so we have got things started.” As part of the project, the art show featuring the Breasts of Colorado will open with festivities from 5 to 9 p.m. Sept. 19 at the Cuttn’ It Loose Salon at 901 Englewood Parkway, Suite 100, where plaster breast castings decorated by local artists will be on display. The event features a live band, refreshments and a silent auction. Cabral said the event is a fundraiser for Sense of Security, a nonprofit that helps breast cancer patients in treatment with basic living expenses such as rent or mortgages, utilities and other household expenses. The creations began in July when 20
Presentations contained no good news Aug. 26 as staff presented the city council with data for use in developing the 2014 budget. “We expect to meet or exceed budget forecasts for 2013,” City Manager Gary Sears said as he opened the budget presentation. “For next year, sales and use taxes, one of the major sources of revenue, the estimate is those revenues will increase about 2.4 percent, based on inflation and new development. But we are facing challenges balancing the budget because we know we have higher costs for health insurance, contractapproved wage increases, increased pension obligations and increases in general operating expenses.” He added that, without increased growth or new revenue sources, Englewood’s ability to provide responsive and quality day-today services and to meet capital improvement requirements continues to be difficult. No decisions were made Aug. 26, but additional budget discussions with the council are scheduled Sept. 3 and Sept. 9. The council will hold the public hearing on the proposed budget on Sept. 16, and the annual council budget workshop is scheduled for Sept. 23. The general fund is the money the city uses to pay the cost of day-to-day operations and is one of the largest portions of the city’s total budget. In the preliminary 2014 general fund budget proposal, total sources of funds are estimated to be $40,714,232, while the city’s total use of funds is forecast to be $42,303,936. As the discussion began, Councilmember Rick Gillit said he was concerned because the proposed 2014 budget for the general fund estimates that city spending will exceed revenues by about $1.6 million. “That is a big number and we need to see how to reduce it,” he said. Mayor Randy Penn said the council has dealt with forecast shortfalls in each of the last few years. He said that, at this time last year, the forecast was that the city would spend $900,000 more than it received in revenues. Now, the forecast difference has been downgraded to about $400,000. “The shortfall was $900,000 and now is $400,000, but there is still a shortfall,” Gillit said. “We are required to have a balanced budget so the shortfall must be made up. It can’t be ignored.” Sears said there is no easy answer on how to eliminate the shortfall. He said, for example, to make up the $400,000 requires shortfall in this year’s general fund budget would require a 1 percent spending reduction. He said the city also faces challenge in the effort to establish a balanced budget for 2014. He said, again, there are no simple fixes to deal with forecast city finances. To balance the budget, the basic choice facing the city is increasing revenues or reducing spending. The general agreement is that there are no new revenue sources available unless the residents approve increasing taxes. The other choice is determining how the city can reduce spending. “The council can choose courses of action such as postponing projects, freezing
Cancer continues on Page 7
Budget continues on Page 7
Englewood’s miniature train rumbles across the bridge as it makes one of its final trips for the summer around its mile-long track at Belleview Park. The train closed down for the winter after the Labor Day runs. The train and other attractions around Belleview Park will open again for next year’s Memorial Day weekend. Photo by Tom Munds
Park hopping on a holiday afternoon Families gather as Labor Day signals approach of autumn By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com Families and individual took advantage of the Labor Day holiday to visit Belleview Park and take part in activities ranging from relaxing under a tree to playing ball. For example, about 100 members of Calvary Apostolic Church gathered under the shelter near the playground for a potluck dinner while, a short distance away, the Morace family found a shady spot to spread a blanket and barbecue grill.
The day was quite warm, so wading in Big Dry Creek attracted children and adults. Kaylynn Charbonneau got her feet wet as she kept a close eye on Logan Garcia while the 4-year-old splashed and played in the water. “This is a great way to spend the day,” Charbonneau said. “My parents brought me to Belleview Park when I was little and now I am bringing Logan here so he can have fun.” Centennial residents Mike and Rachael Phillips said they were driving by the park when their 5-year-old grandson saw the miniature train and wanted to ride it. “I think we knew this park was here but we haven’t visited it in years,” Mike said.
“It is such a nice facility and our grandson loves the train. We had all we could do to get him off after two rides.” He said he is sorry to hear it was the last day for the train for the season, but said he and his wife will probably bring the 5-yearold back to Belleview Park because there are so many nice facilities for children and families. As sunset approached, people began to leave. It was also time to put the train away for the winter, to close down the Children’s Farm and Pirates Cove Family Aquatic Park. But plans are to have all three attractions in top condition when it is time to open for the season on Memorial Day weekend next year.
Englewood joins breast-cancer fight Volunteers head effort to increase awareness By Tom Munds
tmunds@ourcoloradonews.com
The city will turn the water in the Englewood Civic Center fountain pink in September as part of the annual go-pink project to promote breast cancer awareness. File photo POSTAL ADDRESS
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