American Canyon parents, residents, church groups and others are being asked to weigh in on what city services they can live without as the city looks for as much as $1.7 million worth of expenses to trim from its total annual budget of $16 million.

As the downturn continues to drag on city revenues, City Manager Rich Ramirez said he is holding informational meetings with “stakeholders” in town, including parent-teacher groups, church members and others. The city isn’t expected to make its decision on the cuts until early next year.

“The recession has finally caught up with American Canyon,” Ramirez said.

On Tuesday, Ramirez will take the case for cuts to a joint meeting of the city Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission and Open Space Advisory Committee.

So far, about 130 people have filled out Ramirez’ seven-page questionnaire, which lists dozens of possible places to trim expenses. City officials have been dishing out questionnaires only to community groups and business groups thus far, but Tuesday is the first formal public meeting when the budget options will be discussed.

The list includes saving $130,000 a year by not hiring a new school resource officer for the new American Canyon High School. Also on the list: eliminating the Planning Commission and shifting its work to the City Council, reducing reliance on outside city consultants, scaling back library hours and dropping the $36,000 in staff time and other expenses related to the two-day Fourth of July festival at Community Park.

The city is also asking residents their opinion on revenue possibilities, including increasing the city’s transient occupancy tax — the tax visitors pay to rent a hotel room — from 10 percent to 12 percent. The tax increase, which could be on the November 2010 ballot, would bring an additional $120,000 to city coffers.

The survey results will be used to formulate questions in a poll of 400 households early next year before the mid-year adjustments are made.

At the same time, the city will negotiate new agreements with its labor unions. The city’s two Teamsters labor contracts, which cover about

65 employees, expire June 30.

American Canyon will receive about $600,000 less than anticipated in property tax revenues because residential assessments decreased by

11 percent this year. American Canyon’s assessments are expected to decline by another 4 percent next year, Ramirez said.

The city, which operates on $16 million a year, also projects a $200,000 drop in retail sales tax revenues in 2009.

Retailers the city once counted on — but whose plans have stalled due to the economy — include Walgreens and Powerscreen of California, a company on South Kelly Road.

“We have put things on hold until we understand what direction the economy is going to take,” said Jay Wessell, chief financial officer for the company that rents and sells heavy machinery equipment worth between $100,000 and $900,000.

Planning Commissioners are paid $105 each per meeting. Ramirez said the $10,000 figure for the commission included trips to conventions.

Charlie Johnson, the longest-tenured planning commissioner, with 14 years of services, said that he would not mind working for free. “I have no problem with that,” he said.

“If I’m going to take a cut, then it would appear to me that everybody else should, too,” Johnson added. “But that’s up to them,” he said, referring to the city leaders.

American Canyon budget meeting

When: 7 p.m. Tuesday

Where: City Hall, 4381 Broadway/Highway 29, American Canyon

On the list

The city of American Canyon is considering cuts, including:

• Police sergeant position: $160,000

• Resource officer for American Canyon High School: $130,000

• Senior housing enforcement: $75,000

• Festival at the Park: $36,000

• Friday Nights at the Plaza: $27,050

• Summer open swim: $26,600

• Fall, winter and spring open swim: $24,900

• Youth basketball: $19,280

• Easter egg hunt: $6,300

• Street lighting: $5,000

• Fourth of July parade : $4,760

• Planning commission: $10,000