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Letter from the Mayor
The City of Fort Wayne
Graham Richard, Mayor
February 23, 2005
Dear Citizen:
It is always our goal to be fiscally responsible and to use your tax money wisely. We continue to focus on improving services for residents, attracting quality jobs and making Fort Wayne a safer city. The City's 2005 Budget reflects this focus.
Our City is positioned to take advantage of improvements in our economy. I have encouraged a regional focus for economic development and increased private investment in our community. The City is enhancing our partnership with the Fort Wayne-Allen County Economic Development Alliance to attract new businesses to Fort Wayne.
In 2005, the City will launch an aggressive three-year plan to retain and gain jobs and make infrastructure investments. We are also freeing up additional funds to pursue economic development opportunities and job creation projects.
A recent success story is the City's Six Sigma program, which is featured in Michael George's book, “Lean Six Sigma for Service.” George is an author and expert on Six Sigma. The Six Sigma program has saved the City more than $3 million.
We continue to face the challenges of having to do more with fewer dollars. Your City leadership team will always look for innovative ways to overcome these challenges.Sincerely,
Graham A. Richard
Mayor
Letter from the Controller
The City of Fort Wayne
Graham Richard, Mayor
January 1, 2005
Dear Fellow Citizen,
The 2005 City of Fort Wayne Budget reflects the emphasis on critical objectives to:
- Expense management through strong fiscal control
- Reduce gap in revenues and expenditures
- Maintain adequate cash reserve
For many years, the City of Fort Wayne was substantially below the property tax maximum levy. In the 2004 budget, the City was $20 million below the maximum levy (banked levy), which allowed for financial flexibility in local government. The passage of Senate Bill 1 in December 2003 removed the banked levy and eliminated any financial flexibility. The levy is now calculated using a six-year average of non-farm personal income multiplied by the prior year levy. The new calculation does limit all taxing entities' ability to raise property taxes, which is good news for the taxpayer.
The continued focus on expense and cash management has allowed the City of Fort Wayne to be financially positioned to fund the Southwest Extended annexation costs as the City prepares for the January 1, 2006 annexation.
Fiscal responsibility requires revenues to exceed expenditures. Currently, the City is using the cash reserve to prepare for the Southwest Extended annexation.
In 2007, property tax revenues will be received and will align with the expenditures incurred with the Southwest Extended annexation.
I would like to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of all City employees as they respond to financial objectives that has allowed our City to be in the strong financial position it is today.
If you have any questions or suggestions, please feel free to call me at 427-1106 or email your questions or suggestions to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Sincerely,
Patricia A. Roller, CPA
City Controller