Public Gets Chance to Air Budget Priorities

By Blair Clarkson
Staff Writer

Jan. 26 -- Santa Monica’s revenues for the current year have increased by $3.4 million thanks to funds received from Vehicle License Fee "backfill" not budgeted at the beginning of the year, but the City will have to continue tightening its fiscal belt during the upcoming fiscal year, City officials said.

The announcements will be made at Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, when Santa Monica residents will have a say on the coming fiscal year's budget, which goes into effect on July 1.

The council will hear recommendations from staff regarding alterations to the 2003-04 budget, review the mid-term community priorities update and then open the floor to the public for help identifying services, programs and projects that residents feel are either critical for the City in the coming year or could be delayed or eliminated.

Staff is expected to recommend that the council approve more than $6 million in capital improvement funding to shore up and repair the pier, a project staff anticipates will further reduce the City's ongoing funding gap from $4 million to $2.1 million next fiscal year.

Additional proposed General Fund expenditures include $200,000 for promotional activities by the Convention & Visitor's Bureau, $108,000 for new personnel in Planning & Community Development, $100,000 for improvements to two fire stations and $117,000 for various community park and beach maintenance projects.

As a result of continuing budget "uncertainty" at the State level and the lack of proposed solutions to California's deficit woes from the Governor's office, City officials anticipate ongoing State take-backs of local revenue in the years to come.

Further budget reductions -- while smaller than those needed to balance the current City budget -- are expected to continue in fiscal years 2004-05, 2005-06 and beyond, City officials said.

Consequently, City staff will seek assistance Tuesday night from the council and the community in identifying and discussing budget priorities and funding for projects in the coming year.