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City Releases Budget, Targets Surplus for Public Safety
by Paul Teetor
The city has unveiled its proposed budget — with a projected $7 million surplus - for the 2001-2002 fiscal year, which begins July 1.
The proposed budget assumes $46.9 million in expenditures and revenues of $54.4 million. The budget suggests using the resulting surplus, as well as the $5.8 million surplus from last year, to pay for a proposed renovation of the city’s public safety facilities.
According to the budget, the surpluses have resulted from significant increases in tax revenue and less-than-expected spending.
Mayor Walt Dougher, who took office in March, said he is proud of the first budget presented to the public since he became mayor.
"We’re continuing to run the city in a sound financial manner, and this budget reflects that approach," Dougher said Monday. "We’ve been fortunate to have a robust economy in the last several years, and that has enabled us to set aside funds in our capital improvement fund for some major projects like the public safety building."
Dougher said he also took pride in the fact that the budget keeps full-time staffing at current levels even though citywide revenues have increased more than 9 percent.
The City Council will hold a public hearing on the budget at its May 15 meeting.
"At that meeting we’ll decide how much money to apply from the surplus to the public safety building, and whether or not we need a bond to help pay for it," Dougher said.
The proposed budget will then be presented for approval at the council’s June 5 meeting.
Copies of the proposed budget are available for public review at the city clerk’s office, the Manhattan Beach Library and on the internet at www.ci.manhattanbeach.ca.us