Faced with a $2.771 million deficit in 2009, Des Moines City Council members already have agreed on approximately $1.8 million in spending cuts next year.

At special meetings on Oct. 25 and Oct. 28 and their regular Oct. 30 meeting, council members gave preliminary approval to a series of program reductions that will be incorporated in the final budget-writing process.

State law requires that the new budget be adopted by Dec. 31. In the meantime, council members will revisit the preliminary budget to close the remaining $900,000 gap.

The city's projected budget deficit is the result of flat revenue growth, increased expenses, and receipts from the state's streamlined sales tax that are sharply lower than anticipated.

Local receipts from the streamlined sales tax, which took effect July 1, was expected to bring in $400,000 in new revenue for the final six months of 2008, according to Department of Revenue estimates. But based on sales tax revenue to the city for July and August, that amount is expected to be no more than $40,000.

For 2009, the anticipated amount from the streamlined sales tax was $900,000, but based on current receipts that figure has been reduced to $100,000.

The streamlined sales tax changed the location where sales taxes are assessed from the point of purchase to the point of pick-up or delivery.

City officials are exploring with state officials the reason for the shortfall in streamlined sales tax receipts to determine whether Des Moines might be entitled to a greater share of this revenue.

Major spending reductions for 2008 that council members have agreed to include:

Planning, Building and Public Works Department - the layoff of a plans examiner/building inspector ($83,794), and a reduction in building plans counter services ($65,198).

Parks and Recreation Department - the layoff of a park maintenance worker ($64,946), a variety of reductions in recreation programs and general support services ($43,395), and the elimination of financial support for special events ($22,500).

The city will continue its current level of support for both the Des Moines Waterfront Farmers Market and the Mt. Rainier Pool in 2009.

However, Des Moines will not renew a contract with its lobbyist in Washington, D.C. ($67,000), and will reduce to part-time a human resources specialist ($30,000) by eliminating non-essential personnel programs.

All city departments will be affected by the council's decision to defer for one year rental equipment replacements ($343,309) and computer equipment replacement ($168,594).

A number of spending reductions that council members have agreed will occur in the police department since that agency represents the city's single largest budget category.

But, said Mayor Bob Sheckler, "We as a council were very careful to keep faith with our voters, who approved the property tax levy lid lift a few years ago to bring police staffing back up to 1999 levels."

Reductions in the police department include a freeze on filling three vacant officer positions ($284,636), cuts in small equipment, dues and memberships, supplies, and professional services ($43,200), and a reduction in non-emergency overtime ($30,000).

In addition, the city is installing extra batteries in police vehicles to they won't have to be left idling to power computers, which will result in a savings in fuel costs ($25,000).