Evanston Residents To Be Surveyed About Budget Priorities

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston residents will be asked which programs are most important to them and which are the least essential under a proposed survey to implement a priority-based budgeting process to balance the city's budget. Under the plan presented to the City Council ahead of its special meeting Monday, Evanstonians will be asked which of 54 city programs identified by staff as the least essential are candidates for cuts, consolidation or other changes.

As part of the first step in the process to close an anticipated multi-million-dollar budget shortfall for the year, city staff scored every program offered by the city on a point system. Members of each city department took part in ranking 152 programs provided by the city according to a system that assigned each of them a score of 0-4 in 11 separate categories.

The goal was to narrow down the list of programs to about 50 lowest-scoring ones, so that they can be the focus of a public outreach process and considered for changes during the upcoming process to shape the 2019 budget, according to a memo from Evanston's CFO and Treasurer Hitesh Desai, Finance and Budget Manager Ashley King and Senior Management Analyst Kate Lewis-Lakin.

Here's the factors by which city initiatives were evaluated: (1) whether the program is mandated and why by; (2) the level of its cost that gets recovered; (3) the change in demand for the program; (4) the reliance on the city to provide the service; (5) the portion of the community served by the program; (6) how much it helps investment in city facilities and infrastructures; (7) how much it enhances community development and job creation; (8) how much it expands affordable housing; (9) how much it furthers police and community relations; (10) whether it helps stabilize long-term city finances and (11) whether it benefit historically underrepresented or disadvantaged populations.

Among programs that scored on the bottom half of the list, city staff recommended separating 24 of them (below) because they are required but could be considered for higher fees or consolidation.

After setting those two dozen programs aside, 54 programs remained as candidates for changes.

Of those, residents will be asked to pick the top 10 highest priority programs and the 10 with the lowest priority. There will also be open ended questions, allowing residents to share their top three priorities and three areas to find savings.

The survey will also include demographic questions and opportunities for Evanstonians to share any additional ideas for next year's budget, according to a staff presentation.

The list provided to aldermen (below) includes the department that manages each program but does not specify how much they cost.

According to the staff survey, here are the 10 lowest priority items, in declining order:

• Twice Annual Bulk Pickups
• Business District and Park Refuse Pickup and Disposal
• Health Social Services (Victim Advocacy)
• Historic Preservation Review
• Dutch Elm Disease Control
• Mental Health Board
• Public Art Installation Support
• Human Resources - Training
• Payroll
• Special Event Support
• Subsidized Taxi Cab Coupon program

The survey will be available online from May 10 to 31, and residents can also call 311 to provide responses. Printed copies will be available at all community centers and libraries, and an open house on priority-based budgeting will be held May 24 from 3 to 8 p.m. at the Civic Center (Room G300).

Survey results are due to be presented to the City Council at it June 18 meeting, according to a staff presentation.

Full City of Evanston staff ranking of 152 city-funded programs:

» UPDATE: Fill Out The Survey Here