Post by Tribune on Jun 25, 2004 9:43:07 GMT -8
Azusa back in the black
A balanced city budget, in itself, is not something that normally merits acclaim cities should be expected to do such. However, after running in the red for three years, the city of Azusa should be commended for getting itself back in the black.
The city that has passed three new taxes in the past three years finally decided to live within its means. That meant cutting $2.8 million across the board in the city budget, especially at the administrative level.
The cuts call for about a dozen city employees to be given early retirement packages. Those positions will be refilled on a case-by-case basis, with an eye toward essential jobs.
The other cuts will target several part-time city jobs, the Police Department's canine unit and the school district's D.A.R.E. program. The anti-drug program will be replaced with "Too Good For Drugs and Too Good For Violence,' a less-expensive program that aims to reach more students. A cut in library hours is one area we'd like to see new City Manager Julie Gutierrez and the City Council revisit. We never like to see this valuable resource further diminished in any town.
Those programs will be missed in the meantime but balancing the budget is understandably more important. Hopefully, future revenues will allow for their return when the reserves are not in danger.
But the most significant cost- cutting measure is leaving the deputy city manager position vacant. While it will save around $84,000, it also means that the newly appointed Gutierrez and Assistant City Manager Robert Person will be dividing the work of three people between just themselves. While admirable for sharing the burden, we hope the decision will not create burnout in the most important city positions.
Also laudable, the cuts followed public-opinion polling outside markets, by phone and at 10 community meetings where Azusans were asked what they wanted. The resounding answer from the people was to avoid any new taxes. And the city listened.
Now that the budget is balanced, the city also plans to focus on recharging the reserves that have dwindled to $10 million. Person said that all the coming one-time revenues will go directly into the reserves, including the Monrovia Nursery housing project, which could provide $3.5 million toward that cause.
Other cities could learn from Azusa's prudent management. Once again, Azusa is the one to watch.
www.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,205~12238~2233128,00.html
A balanced city budget, in itself, is not something that normally merits acclaim cities should be expected to do such. However, after running in the red for three years, the city of Azusa should be commended for getting itself back in the black.
The city that has passed three new taxes in the past three years finally decided to live within its means. That meant cutting $2.8 million across the board in the city budget, especially at the administrative level.
The cuts call for about a dozen city employees to be given early retirement packages. Those positions will be refilled on a case-by-case basis, with an eye toward essential jobs.
The other cuts will target several part-time city jobs, the Police Department's canine unit and the school district's D.A.R.E. program. The anti-drug program will be replaced with "Too Good For Drugs and Too Good For Violence,' a less-expensive program that aims to reach more students. A cut in library hours is one area we'd like to see new City Manager Julie Gutierrez and the City Council revisit. We never like to see this valuable resource further diminished in any town.
Those programs will be missed in the meantime but balancing the budget is understandably more important. Hopefully, future revenues will allow for their return when the reserves are not in danger.
But the most significant cost- cutting measure is leaving the deputy city manager position vacant. While it will save around $84,000, it also means that the newly appointed Gutierrez and Assistant City Manager Robert Person will be dividing the work of three people between just themselves. While admirable for sharing the burden, we hope the decision will not create burnout in the most important city positions.
Also laudable, the cuts followed public-opinion polling outside markets, by phone and at 10 community meetings where Azusans were asked what they wanted. The resounding answer from the people was to avoid any new taxes. And the city listened.
Now that the budget is balanced, the city also plans to focus on recharging the reserves that have dwindled to $10 million. Person said that all the coming one-time revenues will go directly into the reserves, including the Monrovia Nursery housing project, which could provide $3.5 million toward that cause.
Other cities could learn from Azusa's prudent management. Once again, Azusa is the one to watch.
www.sgvtribune.com/Stories/0,1413,205~12238~2233128,00.html