City of Wichita Budget Simulator

How would you balance the budget? Adjust the sliders to let us know!

Move the sliders to see how changing the service levels can help you balance the budget.

Lower Quality / Higher Importance

Street Repair

-10%.

£0

Permanent paved street repair would be reduced by 19%, there would be 13,800 fewer potholes patched, 1,700 fewer linear feet of curb and gutter would be repaired, there would be 12 fewer snow plow operators, and bike path inspection and maintenance would be eliminated. Unpaved street grading would be reduced by 4 visits per year.

-5%.

£0

Permanent paved street repair would be reduced by 10%, there would be 6,900 fewer potholes patched, 1,340 fewer linear feet of curb and gutter would be repaired, there would be 6 fewer snow plow operators, and bike path inspection and maintenance would be eliminated. Unpaved street grading would be reduced by 2 visits per year.

0%.

£0

Pavement Maintenance includes paved street repair, pothole patching, curb and gutter repair, unpaved street grading, snow and ice removal and bike path maintenance.

5%.

£0

Permanent paved street repair would increase by 10%, there would be 6,900 more potholes patched, 1,340 more liner feet of curb and gutter would be repaired, there would be 6 additional snow plow operators. Unpaved street grading would increase by 2 visits per year.

10%.

£0

Permanent paved street repair would increase by 19%, there would be 13,800 more potholes patched, 1,700 more linear feet of curb and gutter would be repaired, there would be 12 additional snow plow operators. Unpaved street grading would increase by 4 visits per year.

Police Services

-10%.

£0

Rather that continuing to fill all vacant positions through the process of training recruits, about two thirds (2/3) of those positions would be eliminated. About half of vacant Police Officer positions would be filled.

Staff already affected by long hours and extra shifts would be even more negatively impacted with increased workloads and fewer opportunities for positive community interaction, greatly decreasing non-enforcement interactions with residents that promote crime prevention.

This change would result in persistent increases in response times to calls for service, including long delays in low-priority case reporting. Longer response times and fewer officers to take calls for service would decrease time for proactive patrol and community engagement.

-5%.

£0

Rather that continuing to fill all vacant positions through the process of training recruits, about one third (1/3) of positions would be eliminated. Only about 75% of vacant Police Officer positions would be filled.

0%.

£0

Currently budgeted for 469 patrol officers. Continue to staff patrol as is currently staffed. No change to response times. Police Recruit Academies are held twice per year. Graduates of the Police Academy will continue to fill vacant patrol positions.

5%.

£0

This would allow patrol personnel more opportunities for positive police interactions with the community, allowing more time for non-enforcement contacts with residents. Overtime would be slightly reduced, improving employee morale and operational readiness.

10%.

£0

Add 47 more patrol positions. This would significantly create more staffing for patrol, reducing response times and corresponding crime rates due to increased patrol coverage and a measurable reduction in overtime budget and the associated stress on personnel of overtime shifts. More staffing would allow officers more time for proactive policing - a great factor in crime prevention - as well as opportunities to interact regularly with residents and businesses within their assignment in non-enforcement interactions.

Economic Development

-10%.

£0

-5%.

£0

0%.

£0

5%.

£0

10%.

£0

Street Cleaning

-10%.

£0

-5%.

£0

0%.

£0

Street sweeping services are important to the health and safety of the public, quality of life for citizens, attractiveness for visitors, protection of the environment, and preservation of infrastructure.

At budgeted resource levels, we sweep nearly 4,897 lane miles of residential and arterial streets once per year. This option maintains our current level of street sweeping, litter pick-up on City rights-of-way, dumping of core area trash receptacles, clean-up of overgrown alleys, graffiti removal, providing resources for Neighborhood Clean-ups, and environmental programs for Public Works maintenance activities.

5%.

£0

10%.

£0

Traffic Enforcement

-10%.

£0

-5%.

£0

0%.

£0

5%.

£0

10%.

£0

Probation Monitoring & Supervision

-10%.

£0

Fewer jail alternative options would be available. Probationers will experience longer waiting times for reporting, intakes, phone calls and delayed case processing. Sentencings will be delayed as pre-sentence investigations will take longer.

-5%.

£0

Probationers may experience longer wait times for phone calls, reporting appointments, and intake processing. Court processes such as sentencing hearings and probation violation hearings may be delayed.

0%.

£0

Municipal Court is comprised of two divisions - the Court Clerk’s Office and the Probation Office. The Probation Office is responsible for evaluating and monitoring individuals who have been sentenced to probation in lieu of incarceration, ensuring compliance with judicial orders and working to reduce recidivism. Probation staff also provide customer service, including answering phone calls, conducting intakes, attending court hearings, completing presentence investigations, and performing a wide range of other critical tasks that support the courts and the community.

5%.

£0

10%.

£0

Higher Quality / Higher Importance

Public Library Services

-10%.

£0

-5%.

£0

0%.

£0

5%.

£0

10%.

£0

Added investments will improve collection quality by improving electronic collection and reduce wait times for electronic materials.

Fire Services

-10%.

£0

The SAFER grant is from March 2023 through March 2026. Staffing levels would be the same as 2023. This could result in an increase in response times.

-5%.

£0

The SAFER grant is from March 2023 through March 2026. Staffing levels would be the 21 positions higher than 2023. This could result in an increase in response times.

0%.

£0

In a typical day, Fire Emergency Operations units provide nearly 150 responses in Wichita and neighboring areas from 22 fire stations. The call types range from medical alarms, vehicle accidents, hazardous material investigations, water rescues, and fire responses. All Wichita firefighters are State certified emergency medical care providers. Nearly 80% of Wichita Fire Department (WFD) responses are related to high-frequency, low-risk medical calls. Fire personnel work closely with Sedgwick County Emergency Medical Service (SCEMS) units to provide prompt emergency medical service and patient care.

5%.

£0

A five percent budget increase would allow for staffing of one additional new fire station, including fire personal protective equipment. Modest improvements to response times should be expected, especially in areas that currently experience slower fire response times than other parts of the community.

This increase could also support investments in technology and infrastructure upgrades to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness and better meet the needs of firefighters and the community.

10%.

£0

A 10% budget increase would allow for staffing two additional new fire stations, including fire personal protective equipment. Response capacity would improve, especially in areas that currently experience slower fire response times than other parts of the community.

Investments in updated digital technology and infrastructure would facilitate proactive strategies to enhance firefighting services.

Fire Prevention & Education

-10%.

£0

In addition, it would also lead to a decrease in staffing levels, which would directly affect critical proactive services aimed at reducing human fatalities, injuries, and property damage within our community. As a result, essential inspections of daycares, hospitals, and public education initiatives within USD 259 would face significant delays, posing a heightened risk to the safety and well-being of our residents.

-5%.

£0

Moreover, it would reduce staffing levels, directly impinging upon crucial proactive services aimed at curbing human fatalities, injuries, and property damage within our community. Consequently, vital inspections of daycares, hospitals, and public education endeavors within USD 259 would confront notable delays, escalating the risk to the safety and well-being of our residents.

0%.

£0

Programs aimed at community outreach, fire prevention, and public education may be sustained, but limited capacity for expansion or innovation in these areas may exist. Without additional resources, the department may struggle to reach certain demographics or address specific fire safety concerns within the community.

5%.

£0

This expansion allows the Fire Department to offer a more comprehensive array of educational programs and services to boost public awareness of fire prevention and safety measures. This might involve increasing the installation of smoke alarms in homes, organizing more fire safety workshops, visiting additional schools for student education sessions, and hosting more community events to minimize fire risks.

10%.

£0

City Parks

-10%.

£0

Mowing, litter removal and other maintenance intervals will increase by no less than 14-days in all locations. Significant decrease in frequency of trash containers being emptied. Significant increase in amount of time before graffiti, illegal dumping and other cleanliness issues are addressed. Considerable reduction in support for revenue producing Recreational programming and athletic events, resulting in reduction of service offered to the public. Elimination of shelter building cleaning and rentals. Elimination of annual flower beds. Significant reduction in ability to provide services for special events, resulting in fewer special events for the public. Reduction of bike and walking path cleaning and sweeping. This will result in a negative impact on visitor impression of Wichita.

-5%.

£0

Trash containers would be emptied less often. There would be some increase in the amount of time before graffiti, illegal dumping and other cleanliness issues are addressed. There would be a reduction in support for recreational programming, athletic, and special events. Shelter buildings would be cleaned less often for rentals. This will result in a negative impact on visitor impression of Wichita.

0%.

£0

5%.

£0

Park cleanliness concerns would be addressed faster. Some additional recreational programming and athletic events will be able to be added to provide additional opportunities for the public and visitor to participate in recreational activities. Additional resources would be added to ensure cleanliness and maintenance of downtown public spaces and Arkansas River areas. These changes will help to encourage positive visitor impression of Wichita.

10%.

£0

Park cleanliness concerns would be addressed faster. Support for additional recreational programming and athletic events will be able to be added to provide additional opportunities for the public. Additional resources would be added to ensure cleanliness and maintenance of downtown public spaces and Arkansas River areas. These changes will help to encourage positive visitor impression of Wichita.

Snow Removal

-10%.

£0

-5%.

£0

0%.

£0

5%.

£0

10%.

£0

Street Lighting

-10%.

£0

The removal of these streetlights would result in an initial increased cost to the budget due to the cost of removing the structures before any savings would be realized.

-5%.

£0

The removal of these streetlights would result in an initial increased cost to the budget due to cost of removing the structures before any savings would be realized.

0%.

£0

Streetlights promote safety for motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Costs for streetlights account for installation, electrical usage, and maintenance.

5%.

£0

10%.

£0

Lower Quality / Lower Importance

Animal Control

-15%.

£0

-10%.

£0

-5%.

£0

0%.

£0

Bus or Transit Services

-15%.

£0

-10%.

£0

-5%.

£0

0%.

£0

Code Enforcement

-15%.

£0

Operational Impacts: Eliminate funding for Code Enforcement Liaison Programs Dumpsters and Materials and Equipment ($106,000), Tall Grass and Weeds Programming ( $45,835), and a portion of Demolition Funding ($89,273).

There are two Code Enforcement Liaison positions. These employees connect residents with code enforcement violations to resources to correct problems.

-10%.

£0

There are two Code Enforcement Liaison positions. These employees connect residents with code enforcement violations to resources to correct problems.

-5%.

£0

There are two Code Enforcement Liaison positions. These employees connect residents with code enforcement violations to resources to correct problems.

0%.

£0

Sidewalk Maintenance

-15%.

£0

Failure to complete repairs could expose the City or adjacent property owner to lawsuit since repairs are required for compliance with ADA regulations. The adjacent property owner is responsible for cost of repairs in most circumstances, and so the City is reimbursed for most of the project costs.

-10%.

£0

Failure to complete even one of the repairs could expose the City or adjacent property owner to a lawsuit since repairs are required for compliance with ADA regulations. The adjacent property owner is responsible for the cost of repairs in most circumstances, so the City is reimbursed for most of the project costs.

-5%.

£0

Failure to complete even one of the repairs could expose the City or adjacent property owner to a lawsuit since repairs are required for compliance with ADA regulations. The adjacent property owner is responsible for the cost of repairs in most circumstances, and so the City is reimbursed for most of the project costs.

0%.

£0

Repairs to the sidewalk are required for compliance with ADA regulations. The City performs repairs based on reports from the public and subsequent inspections to verify which sections of the sidewalk need to be repaired. Failure to complete the necessary repairs quickly exposes the City to the risk of a lawsuit if an injury is associated with the unrepaired sidewalk. The adjacent property owner is responsible for the cost of repairs in most circumstances, so the City is reimbursed for most of the project costs.

Higher Quality / Lower Importance

Park & Street Trees

-15%.

£0

In addition to eliminating contracted support, hiring additional staff would cease. Storm damage response times will increase which also impacts public safety negatively. Backlogged work and deferred maintenance will continue to accumulate.

-10%.

£0

-5%.

£0

0%.

£0

Recreation

-15%.

£0

This would impact the available services that are offered to the community. The programming at Naftgzer Park would be reduced limiting the opportunity to offer regional, national events such as the Fan Fest that have a major economic impact for the community and local businesses.

-10%.

£0

Outsourcing these services to a private entity might lead to reduced staffing levels and potentially higher costs for users, affecting the accessibility of these facilities for those who rely on them.

-5%.

£0

0%.

£0

Swimming Pools & Splash Pads

-15%.

£0

There would be reduced programming at all other pools such as learn to swim, open swim, first aid, CPR classes, and facility rentals.

Close two swimming pools, four splash pads, and significantly reduce hours and programming at open locations. The ability to address needed repairs, respond to emergencies, and monitor pool chemical levels and cleaning protocols would be limited.

-10%.

£0

There would be reduced amenities at open locations, such as swim lessons and rentals for birthdays and other special events.

-5%.

£0

0%.

£0

By keeping all facilities open and offering a comprehensive range of programs and services, the community can continue to benefit from the diverse learning to swim, open swim times, and recreational and social opportunities they rely on for their well-being.

Public Information Services

-15%.

£0

-10%.

£0

-5%.

£0

0%.

£0

Municipal Court

-15%.

£0

-10%.

£0

Customers will also have longer wait times on the phone and in person. Cases will take longer to make it through the court.

-5%.

£0

More money would need to be spent on jailing defendants. Customers may also have longer wait times and cases may take longer to make it through the court.

0%.

£0

Maintaining current court staffing levels and program offerings are in the best interest of citizens to provide assistance and service as needed in a timely manner.