ARTICLE
SANTA FE – In order to assist the City of Santa Fe with its budgetary challenges, City staff, the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce and AFSCME have collaborated to produce a Comparison Cities Report which allows for greater analysis of levels of service and staffing from eleven other cities of comparable size. No two cities are exactly alike and so side-by-side comparison is an inexact science but by comparing Santa Fe with Las Cruces, Flagstaff, Lubbock, Boise, Sarasota and others, trends can be seen as to programs, priorities and costs of operating local governments. The three organizations have collaborated in the comparison process in order to provide the Santa Fe City Council with relevant facts as they make the difficult decisions necessary to balance the city budget for FY 2016-17 and for the future. The Chamber’s Ad Hoc Committee previously released a report with 40+ possible budgetary actions to assist the governing body. The report compares areas such as parks and recreation, planning and zoning, finance, information technology and transportation and presents staffing level averages for each sector so that the City Council can be aware of other cities operations and priorities. An analysis of the data shows: COMPARISON CITIES REPORT Santa Fe has the highest ratio of full time equivalent employees (FTEs) when compared to 12 other similar sized cities. The ratio of Santa Fe FTEs is 164% the average of 12 other similar sized cities. The average FTE’s of these similar sized communities, would suggest an ideal staffing level of 903 staff which would be a reduction of 578 people from current city staffing levels. Santa Fe has the highest ratio of general government staffing compared to similar communities. This ratio is 189% above the average of similar communities. Santa Fe has 235% above the average of similar communities staffing in the parks and recreation department. The Transportation Department is 313% above the multi-city average. If Santa Fe’s ratio was not included in setting the average, we would be 410% above the FTE average of other cities. Santa Fe has the highest ratio of employees in the Arts and Culture department – This is appropriate for our community given its unique heritage. Santa Fe has the highest ratio of employees in Community Services compared to similar sized communities. The only departments that are below the ratio average are the Community Development and Public Works departments. The Police Department equals the multi- city ratio. CITY STAFFING COMPARISON: SANTA FE VS. COMPARABLE CITIES Santa Fe Las Cruces Flagstaff Lubbock Omaha Boise Colorado Springs Topeka Des Moines Palm Springs Sarasota Asheville GENERAL GOVERNMENT 58.5 Mayor & Council 9.0 7.0 14.0 10.5 5.0 12.0 7.0 1.0 Executive/City Manager 17.0 8.0 16.0 12.0 13.4 21.5 11.0 9.0 6.5 5.0 13.0 City Attorney 9.0 15.0 16.0 35.0 50.4 42.0 15.0 17.0 7.0 City Clerk 6.0 3.3 18.0 8.0 9.0 7.0 3.0 Internal Audit 1.0 2.0 3.0 14.0 14.0 Other (i.e. Special districts, etc) 11.0 Municipal Court 26.0 26.4 22.0 34.5 23.0 Sub-Total 68.5 67.0 52.6 75.0 69.0 74.3 137.0 61.0 40.0 10.5 19.0 20.0 0.84 0.64 0.80 0.31 0.13 0.78 0.31 0.48 0.19 0.24 0.36 0.23 Average 0.44 189% FINANCE 30.0 62.0 35.8 26.0 21.0 17.0 19.0 33.0 Administration-Budget 5.0 7.0 2.0 11.0 Comptroller 36.0 20.0 14.0 18.0 Risk Management 2.0 7.0 2.0 6.0 5.0 7.3 4.3 Purchasing 3.0 8.0 6.0 2.0 9.0 3.0 Treasurer 1.0 12.0 17.8 1.0 11.0 Sub-Total 47.0 54.0 41.8 37.0 42.0 66.9 52.0 26.0 21.0 24.3 19.0 33.0 0.57 0.52 0.63 0.15 0.08 0.71 0.12 0.20 0.10 0.55 0.36 0.38 Average 0.36 157% FLEET MANAGEMENT 11.0 24.0 12.0 17.0 51.0 18.3 4.0 38.0 8.0 8.0 Sub-Total 11.0 24.0 12.0 17.0 51.0 18.3 4.0 - 38.0 8.0 8.0 - 0.13 0.23 0.18 0.07 0.10 0.19 0.01 - 0.18 0.18 0.15 - average 0.12 112% HUMAN RESOURCES 12.8 13.0 9.0 9.0 27.0 19.1 27.8 12.0 13.0 1.8 7.0 19.8 Health Fund Sub-Total 12.8 13.0 9.0 9.0 27.0 19.1 27.8 12.0 13.0 1.8 7.0 19.8 0.16 0.12 0.14 0.04 0.05 0.20 0.06 0.09 0.06 0.04 0.13 0.23 Average 0.11 141% INFORMATION TECH. & TELECOM. 26.0 27.0 14.0 44.0 56.0 54.0 15.0 29.0 4.0 15.0 21.0 Sub-Total 26.0 27.0 14.0 44.0 - 56.0 54.0 15.0 29.0 4.0 15.0 21.0 0.32 0.26 0.21 0.18 - 0.59 0.12 0.12 0.14 0.09 0.29 0.24 0.21 149% PARKS & RECREATION 155.3 42.0 82.0 151.6 79.0 90.6 Administration 3.0 6.0 Recreation 53.5 47.0 Genoveva Chavez Community Center Municipal Recreation Complex 32.3 Parks, Trails & Watershed 33.7 105.0 113.5 6.8 31.4 Cemetery 7.0 Recreation 47.0 21.5 16.0 Sub-Total 155.3 89.0 90.1 89.0 158.0 151.6 145.8 - 79.0 28.3 47.4 90.6 1.89 0.85 1.37 0.37 0.31 1.60 0.33 - 0.38 0.64 0.90 1.04 0.81 235% 1.90 PLANNING & ZONING 49.0 90.9 10.0 71.0 28.5 Administration 1.0 2.5 2.0 Land Use Planning/Zoning 5.5 21.0 15.0 7.3 10.0 Building Inspection 20.0 11.0 24.0 67.0 14.0 17.3 50.0 Current Planning 8.0 7.0 4.0 2.0 3.0 Historic Preservation Public Health 23.0 Environmental Health Code 32.0 Inspection & Enforcement 3.0 Technical Review 11.0 15.5 Sub-Total 49.0 31.0 25.5 86.0 90.5 90.9 51.5 10.0 71.0 28.7 31.5 60.0 0.60 0.30 0.39 0.36 0.18 0.96 0.12 0.08 0.34 0.64 0.60 0.69 Average 0.44 137% POLICE 231.0 276.0 1,013.0 100.4 965.5 353.5 481.0 129.0 283.0 Administration 28.0 6.0 51.7 Criminal Investigations 22.0 911 Center 28.0 6.0 Animal Services 24.0 Patrol 88.0 545.0 289.5 160.0 Sub-Total 231.0 276.0 166.0 569.0 1,013.0 395.9 971.5 353.5 481.0 129.0 211.7 283.0 2.82 2.65 2.52 2.38 1.96 4.17 2.21 2.77 2.32 2.90 4.03 3.24 Average 2.83 100% FIRE 165.0 138.0 429.0 482.5 245.0 283.0 45.7 260.8 Administration 4.0 5.0 6.0 Operations 78.0 652.0 262.3 Support Services 6.0 18.3 3.3 Sub-Total 165.0 138.0 88.0 429.0 657.0 286.5 482.5 245.0 283.0 49.0 - 260.8 2.01 1.32 1.34 1.79 1.27 3.02 1.10 1.92 1.36 1.10 - 2.99 1.60 126% ARTS & CULTURE 36.0 Arts & Culture 16.0 8.0 7.0 12.0 22.0 0.5 Civic Center 27.0 20.0 16.5 Tourism/Visitors Bureau 11.0 13.9 20.0 Sub-Total 36.0 27.0 13.9 35.0 20.0 7.0 12.0 22.0 - 0.5 20.0 16.5 0.44 0.26 0.21 0.15 0.04 0.07 0.03 0.17 - 0.01 0.38 0.19 0.16 270% COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 14.0 14.0 47.0 Administration 8.0 2.0 2.5 1.5 Housing 5.0 30.0 16.6 10.0 47.0 1.9 7.0 6.3 Economic Development 3.0 2.0 3.0 7.0 2.7 7.5 Metro/Long-Range Planning 4.0 7.9 Sub-Total 14.0 15.0 16.9 14.0 32.5 16.6 13.0 47.0 54.0 6.0 7.0 13.8 0.17 0.14 0.26 0.06 0.06 0.17 0.03 0.37 0.26 0.13 0.13 0.16 0.16 105% COMMUNITY SERVICES 137.5 Administration 2.0 2.0 Library 28.0 53.4 36.0 102.0 110.2 55.0 14.3 Senior Services 27.0 Youth & Family 10.0 Housing Authority 22.0 Sub-Total 137.5 67.0 75.4 36.0 102.0 110.2 - - 55.0 14.3 2.0 - 1.68 0.64 1.15 0.15 0.20 1.16 - - 0.27 0.32 0.04 - 0.62 270% TRANSPPORTATION 179.4 Airport 4.0 9.5 48.0 109.0 93.0 69.0 Parking 1.0 2.0 8.5 12.0 21.8 Transit 56.0 26.0 34.3 Sub-Total 179.4 60.0 10.5 48.0 2.0 109.0 127.5 - - 69.0 12.0 56.1 2.19 0.58 0.16 0.20 0.00 1.15 0.29 - - 1.55 0.23 0.64 0.7 313% 0.53 410% PUBLIC WORKS 98.5 28.1 385.0 267.0 75.6 Administration 4.8 10.0 18.0 Facilities Maintenance 76.0 11.5 16.0 17.0 1.0 23.0 32.0 37.0 Roadways & Trails Engineering 16.0 17.5 17.0 61.0 41.5 13.9 6.3 Streets & Drainage Maintenance 38.0 37.5 74.0 176.0 113.5 9.0 18.4 51.4 Traffic Engineering 20.0 37.0 62.0 26.0 92.0 Sub-Total 98.5 154.8 76.5 144.0 334.0 28.1 182.0 385.0 359.0 45.9 56.6 164.0 1.20 1.49 1.16 0.60 0.65 0.30 0.41 3.02 1.73 1.03 1.08 1.88 1.21 99% UTLITIES 248.7 Administration/Shared Office 82.2 18.0 11.0 Electric 303.0 1.0 Gas 58.0 Water 46.2 25.0 170.0 62.8 149.0 Wastewater 47.8 23.0 76.0 133.0 209.8 0.5 66.5 Solid Waste & Environmental 46.0 56.3 113.0 61.0 5.0 1.0 24.7 Sub-Total 248.7 280.2 122.3 662.0 194.0 215.8 - - - 1.5 164.9 149.0 3.03 2.7 1.9 2.8 0.4 2.3 - - - 0.0 3.1 1.7 1.99 153% TOTAL 1,479.7 1,323.0 814.5 2,294.0 2,792.0 1,646.1 2,260.5 1,176.5 1,523.0 420.5 621.2 1,187.6 Population 82,000 104,195 65,870 239,538 517,110 94,871 439,886 127,679 207,510 44,468 52,585 87,236 FTE/1000capita 18.0 12.7 12.4 9.6 5.4 17.4 5.1 9.2 7.3 9.5 11.8 13.6 Average FTE/1000 11.0 164% Santa Fe x Average FTE/1000 902.1 - 577.6
SANTA FE – In order to assist the City of Santa Fe with its budgetary challenges, City staff, the Santa Fe Chamber of Commerce and AFSCME have collaborated to produce a Comparison Cities Report which allows for greater analysis of levels of service and staffing from eleven other cities of comparable size.
No two cities are exactly alike and so side-by-side comparison is an inexact science but by comparing Santa Fe with Las Cruces, Flagstaff, Lubbock, Boise, Sarasota and others, trends can be seen as to programs, priorities and costs of operating local governments.
The three organizations have collaborated in the comparison process in order to provide the Santa Fe City Council with relevant facts as they make the difficult decisions necessary to balance the city budget for FY 2016-17 and for the future. The Chamber’s Ad Hoc Committee previously released a report with 40+ possible budgetary actions to assist the governing body.
The report compares areas such as parks and recreation, planning and zoning, finance, information technology and transportation and presents staffing level averages for each sector so that the City Council can be aware of other cities operations and priorities.
An analysis of the data shows:
COMPARISON CITIES REPORT