Grand Terrace City Council Eliminates Budget Reductions

At their last meeting on Dec. 10, the Grand Terrace City Council decided to utilize unexpected ongoing residual revenues from the Redevelopment Property Tax Trust Fund (RPTTF) (over $600,000), to eliminate the scheduled budget reductions adopted on June 25 by the council that will cover the current fiscal year, 2013-14. The reductions that were going to be implemented were: Eliminate senior center funding, reduce law enforcement contract by one additional deputy, reduce EOC/CERT committee funding by 50 percent, close Rollins and Pico parks, perform only required weed abatement on closed parks, reduce contract services for city attorney and finance, reduce Cultural & Historical Committee funding by 50 percent, reduce city council and oversight board meetings to monthly, reduce city administration personnel-related expense through some combination of outsourcing, and eliminate planning commission for a total of approximately $513,700. The council elected to utilize the ongoing funds to cover the budget shortfall, while maintaining the beginning fund balance of $300,152 by approving a motion by Councilwoman Darcy McNaboe, seconded by Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz, in favor of appropriating the revenues toward the shortfall. The vote was unanimous (5-0). Any possible changes in the allotment of monies collected or amount of bills to be paid will be addressed at the mid-year budget discussions.