March 9 Council Update
DON'T FORGET, THIS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9 IS MY "COFFEE WITH THE MAYOR" AT FLOUR FUSION ON MAIN ST. FROM 9:00-10:30. COME TALK TO ME!
Here are the items of interest on the agenda for Tuesday, March 9, 2010.
Item number #7 - Use of State Prop 1b funds for pavement rehab of city streets.
Staff is proposing using Prop 1b funds to repair two roads: Sumner Ave. from Main to Chaney, and Heald Ave from Main to Chaney. The estimated cost is $705,000.00
Staff also proposes using Prop 42 (Gas Tax) money to pay for the Design Phase of these repairs, in the amount of $20,000.00
We as a city have until 2013 to spend the funds appropriated, or I guess the state takes it back. Even though it was ours to begin with, but please, don't get me started on that.
Item #8 - GO-Pass Program. This is a cooperative effort between RTA and Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) . It allows registered students of MSJC to board all RTA fixed route buses at no charge.
The Southcoast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) disperses taxes collected from AB2766 for programs like this one to cities. Assembly Bill 2766 (AB2766) was passed to help alleviate traffic congestion, air pollution and parking problems.
The cost to the city for one year is $1,081.00. The money would come from funds the city receives from AQMD as mentioned above. The money is taken from the taxpayers, then you get just a little back, but you have to spend it on what they feel is an appropriate use of taxpayer money. How's THAT for irony?
Item #16 - Report on the Mid-Year status of the budget
The online staff report for this item incorrectly states the city anticipates a reduction in revenue of $1. This should read $1 million.
Staff anticipates $1 million less in revenue this year.
Last year about 1 million was taken from the Rainy Day Fund to balance the budget. We apparently did not need that much due to a reduction in expenses in Fire, Police and Parks & Rec.
So, staff proposes using the money we didn't need last year and using it this year, along with taking an additional $245,000 to cover the $1 million shortfall in revenue.
The shortfall in revenue comes from 1) decrease in property tax 2) decrease in sales tax 3) decrease in Fire Tax Credit
If approved, it would leave roughly 6 1/2 million in reserve funds.
To view more detailed staff reports for all agenda items, click on the title of this post.
Here are the items of interest on the agenda for Tuesday, March 9, 2010.
Item number #7 - Use of State Prop 1b funds for pavement rehab of city streets.
Staff is proposing using Prop 1b funds to repair two roads: Sumner Ave. from Main to Chaney, and Heald Ave from Main to Chaney. The estimated cost is $705,000.00
Staff also proposes using Prop 42 (Gas Tax) money to pay for the Design Phase of these repairs, in the amount of $20,000.00
We as a city have until 2013 to spend the funds appropriated, or I guess the state takes it back. Even though it was ours to begin with, but please, don't get me started on that.
Item #8 - GO-Pass Program. This is a cooperative effort between RTA and Mt. San Jacinto College (MSJC) . It allows registered students of MSJC to board all RTA fixed route buses at no charge.
The Southcoast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) disperses taxes collected from AB2766 for programs like this one to cities. Assembly Bill 2766 (AB2766) was passed to help alleviate traffic congestion, air pollution and parking problems.
The cost to the city for one year is $1,081.00. The money would come from funds the city receives from AQMD as mentioned above. The money is taken from the taxpayers, then you get just a little back, but you have to spend it on what they feel is an appropriate use of taxpayer money. How's THAT for irony?
Item #16 - Report on the Mid-Year status of the budget
The online staff report for this item incorrectly states the city anticipates a reduction in revenue of $1. This should read $1 million.
Staff anticipates $1 million less in revenue this year.
Last year about 1 million was taken from the Rainy Day Fund to balance the budget. We apparently did not need that much due to a reduction in expenses in Fire, Police and Parks & Rec.
So, staff proposes using the money we didn't need last year and using it this year, along with taking an additional $245,000 to cover the $1 million shortfall in revenue.
The shortfall in revenue comes from 1) decrease in property tax 2) decrease in sales tax 3) decrease in Fire Tax Credit
If approved, it would leave roughly 6 1/2 million in reserve funds.
To view more detailed staff reports for all agenda items, click on the title of this post.
posted by Melissa Melendez at
1:42 AM
6 Comments:
Great news for the paving of Sumner & Heald, any chance that something will be done to four corners any time soon, this is really a huge PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUE, undefined turn lanes and unmarked cross walks in a very high traffic area.
Road repairs, good. Buss pass, good I guess. Dipping into reserves again, bad. What are you going to do next year when the economy is still in the tank? You guys haven't laid anyone off in over a year but gave out early retirements which cost money. I know the economy is tough and we need the people, but the private sector is laying people off yet the government seems to be holding on. It doesnt' make sense. I suspect you don't have the support of the rest of the council to reduce the number of employees. You don't have to answer that, we watch the meetings and hear all the accolades lavished on your staff. I'm sure they're all good people, but the reality is we can't afford them anymore. Doesn't anyone else see that? Good luck to you, you're doing a fine job given the circumstances.
NO MORE USING OUR SAVINGS! IT'S OUR SAVINGS, THE TAXPAYERS, NOT THE CITY COUNCILS! ARE YOU GOING TO RAISE OUR TAXES WHEN YOU RUN OUT OF MONEY?!
Every municipality in southern California is having to dip into their reserves! And I can only hope the city isn't forced to make any more staff reductions. We need to keep doing business and keep working towards making this city a place we are proud to live in, even during difficult times. Also, early retirements SAVE money! They aren't backfilling those positions so it has the same effect as a layoff. Avoiding layoffs by using early retirments and not filling vacancies as they arise due to attrition is a good thing. Putting yet more people out of work will only add to the mess we are currently in. I think our city government is doing a great job navigating this mess considering it is one of the hardest hit areas in the country, forced to fight frivolous lawsuits and costly special elections. That we even have any money in reserve is amazing to me. Keep up the good work.
You're right, seem like a lot of cities are having to dip into reserves so we're no exception. The last thing we want is to lose more people. We're already thin. Everyone is getting by with less, which is depressing and frustrating for staff I'm sure.
As for early retirement, not everyone is eligible, and not everyone wants to go that route. Once you retire, you can't go get another job with another city in the CALPERS system. I don't think we have many people who are even eligible for early retirement to be honest.
To the other post that asks if we're going to raise your taxes, no, we're not. We don't even have that ability thank goodness. And taxing people more has never ever worked anyway. Stimulating the economy is done by giving people MORE money to spend, not LESS. It's a no-brainer that unfortunately some people (ie:Sacramento) just don't seem to get.
We will do our best folks, but it is what it is, and there's no sign money will start falling from the sky. We just have to knuckle down and weather the storm as best we can.
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