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Mayor Jackie Biskupski wants to improve Salt Lake City's infrastructure and the salaries of city employees — but not by raising taxes.

Biskupski presented her $259 million budget to the City Council on Tuesday, a plan that is 1 percent larger than the current budget and that would set aside more funding for streets, parks, the city's aging fleet and a modest 1.25 percent raise for employees.

Not least, the plan includes an amnesty for motorists who have racked up parking citations.

Biskupski said she would propose an amnesty window between Aug. 1 and Oct. 30 for citations issued before July 1, 2014. It would allow for a one-time reduction in unpaid parking tickets in exchange for a donation of cash or canned goods to a local nonprofit. The mayor said she hopes the average ticket will be reduced by $110 and that the program would generate about $320,000 that the city would otherwise miss out on.

The mayor described the budget as tight; she does not propose a tax increase.

Among the ongoing challenges, the mayor said, will be dealing with debt that will haunt the city for the next four years.

"Guided by policy and fiscal discipline, we will meet these goals without raising taxes or laying off employees," she said, "and while maintaining a relatively flat budget."

Biskupski said her proposed budget should be the beginning of a conversation with the City Council, which must adopt a budget by June 22.

"Before you is a fiscally responsible budget which cares for our city employees, begins to address long-term problems and finds funding for programs important to our identity as a city — a city for everyone."

Some one-time moneys will be used in this budget, the mayor said, because since 2008, a gap has opened between revenue and expenses. Much of the debt is in the city's Capital Improvement Program (CIP), she said.

"Beginning in fiscal year 2017, our payments through debt serviced through CIP will nearly double, and the cash to fund pay-as-you-go capital projects will drop in half for the next four years," which is when the city is required to pay off the debt.

As a result, Biskupski's recommended budget proposes moving maintenance of city parks and facilities out of CIP and into the General Fund. "The move guarantees funds for maintenance or critical community assets."

City residents also shoulder debts, such as the bond for the Public Safety Building and the debt guarantees of the Redevelopment Agency.

"When we choose to invest, regardless of whether the funding comes from our General Fund or through voter-approved bonding, we must be transparent about future maintenance costs and plan for future revenues to cover it."

It's time to get back to basics, the mayor said, highlighting storm drains, sewer systems and roads.

A report from the city's engineering department shows that of the city's 1,855 miles of streets, about two-thirds, or 1,200 miles, are in rated as poor to very poor.

The mayor said that although the option of implementing the so-called "prison sales tax" of one-half of 1 percent has been a topic of conversation, she is not inclined to impose it.

"I would want public input before we move in that direction," she said. "I request we explore every option available to us before we turn to a tax increase."

In addition, the legislation says a new prison must be under construction before the tax could be implemented.

Still, the mayor said her budget proposes increases in street and sidewalk funding by 50 percent. A large share of the money, however, comes from state funds allocated to improve 500 South and 700 South from Redwood Road westward. The plan aims to better serve transportation needs in the industrial core and the remodeled Salt Lake International Airport, as well as the relocated prison.

Investment in transportation is vital for economic growth, Biskupski said; nearly 16 percent of the city's GDP is driven by manufacturing and transportation. Growing the economy is the best place to gain new revenue, she said.

The mayor said her budget proposes to spend $300,000 for traffic-light-timing calibration, bus stop improvements, ADA improvements and sidewalk rehabilitation.

Biskupski touted again her realignment of City Hall that places emphasis on the Department of Economic Development, which will be closely aligned with the RDA. On Tuesday, the mayor named Justin Belliveau as the agency's chief administrative officer.

The city's most valued asset, the mayor said, is its employees. "The budget reflects my continuing effort to empower employees at all levels and to ensure Salt Lake City is an equitable, respectful and safe place to work."

In a prepared statement, James Rogers, the chairman of the City Council said balancing the budget is never easy and requires tough choices.

"But we're optimistic we'll be able to make progress on important council priorities, such as economic development, street maintenance and affordable housing."

In an interview after the speech, Rogers said he was pleased that the mayor's priorities line up with those of the City Council. He added that he like Biskupski's philosophy of going slow on tax increases.