City budget’s teed up and ready to go

From last Monday’s public hearing, it seems the City budget is ready for adoption. I haven’t gone to any of the finance committee meetings and can’t bring myself to actually look at the budget draft in all its 800+ page glory, but I can confidently say there are some really good things in there, and some not-so-good things in there.  Pretty much the was true of the budgets we considered when I chaired the Finance Committee. (So no one mistakes me for someone who is “holier than thou.”

Interim City Manager Melekian did suggest some changes in approach to this year’s budget. He sought zero-based budgets from his department. Essentially, that means he asked everyone to examine all of their expenditures, not just what might be different from the previous budget. To me, that seems a good change. Look at your entire work program and all your expenditures, then prioritize everything, rather than assume last year’s expenses were all good and build on that.

He also asked that everyone consider their mission and look at the budget to see if they are doing heir best to accomplish that mission.  Again, that makes sense.

He also wants to fatten up the reserves by using the money that had been set aside should Measure D fail.  To me, if the city has an additional three or four million dollars and given the state of our economy and the promises made during the Measure D campaign by the City leadership, that money should be used to pay down fees, offset increased utility rates or otherwise be returned to the citizens and businesses of Pasadena.

The City really can’t keep taking and then not expect to give back when they’ve got some extra.

Now. let’s talk about those utility rates…

Paul