Giving his “State of the City” address Monday night, Durham Mayor Bill Bell ticked off a long list of the city’s accomplishments during 2008 before warning of tough times ahead in 2009.
“What’s for sure is, that we must prepare for the worst,” he said.
That worst, however, is not likely to include a property-tax increase this year, Bell said.
Speaking to an overflow crowd at City Hall, the mayor gave a 30-minute speech that was generally upbeat, but repeatedly tempered the optimism with reminders of the national economic crisis.
“Durham has not been immune to the economic downturn,” he said. “There will be some tough decisions ahead of us. ... We will have to do more with less.”
The city will have to improve its efficiency and decide its priorities, he said, and called for a “laser-like focus on the economy, jobs, transportation and green building [and] energy savings.”
Along those lines:
- The city has submitted construction projects for a federal economic stimulus package totaling $69 million, which should create 675 jobs;
- Bell called on the state legislature to provide a “funding mechanism” for a light-rail system serving Durham, Wake and Orange counties, including Raleigh-Durham Airport;
- He also called for the city to position itself at “the frontier” a a growing green-building and -technology industry. “We have started down that road, but I am calling upon Durham to do more,” Bell said.
Among last year’s achievements, Bell mentioned opening of the Performing Arts Center, the ongoing renovation of Durham Athletic Park, partnerships formed with other organizations to create affordable housing and clear urban blight, and the reorganization of city departments under new City Manager Tom Bonfield.
Looking ahead, though, Bell said the city faces a $5.5-million shortfall in revenue for the present fiscal year and projects a 2009-’10 gap between $24 million and $40 million between anticipated expenses and the revenue to meet them.
“Dealing with this shortfall demands that we all roll up our sleeves and find creative solutions.
“I don’t want to scare anyone with my remarks, but all city employees should be aware that we are entering a period of economic uncertainty that many of us have not experienced.”
