City Council Approves Budget

The city council approved the more than $55 million proposed 2011-2012 budget last night, despite some hesitance from mayor Andy Klein about the council's recent spending decisions and the slow decrease of the city's newfound surplus.

The budget was passed with a 4-1 vote. Klein was the no vote.

Klein said the city has reimplemented several programs it had previously cut which was cutting into its surplus and he feared the future would show only more spending. 

The more than $55 million proposed budget includes $11,886,350 for the city’s redevelopment agency, and takes into account the $510,000 the city will spend on one-time costs for dissolving the Belmont-San Carlos fire department.

“It is a one-year budget and as proposed reflects an operating surplus of approximately $394,600,” city documents said.

That money will be split, with half going to the city’s Capital Improvement Fund 25. That is a fund used for city infrastructure including technology, capital improvements, street resurfacing, system upgrades and storm pump, said administrative services director Rebecca Mendenhall.

The other half of the surplus will be placed in a reserve fund known as the Economic Uncertainty Fund.

“It is anticipated that there will be future liabilities related to the dissolution of the Belmont-San Carlos Fire Department,” city records said. “As these costs have not yet been finalized, they have not been included in the budget.”

Mendenhall said she anticipated the unfunded liabilities to be around $800,000 to $1 million.

Staff broke down the various reductions and additions to the city. The budget reflects reductions in park maintenance, human resources recruiting, public notices and Recreation Activity Guide expenses. It also includes the elimination of the youth basketball contract, the IT Systems Analyst and Payroll and Benefits Technician and the dissolution of the Belmont-San Carlos JPA.

Additions to the budget include the funding of part-time staff to maintain the homework lab at the Youth Center, a part-time staff to maintain the Youth and Adult Center wellness programs, the restoration of code enforcement through shared services, more funding for the Night of Holiday Lights, an increase in operating expense for records retention program, additional funding for Sheriff’s contract for part-time traffic enforcement and additional funding for on-call GIS services.

 The city also restored the Jobs for Youth program and gave additional funding for television recordings to include taping of the Planning Commission meetings and other broadcasts. The new contract with Half Moon Bay to provide Recreation Services was also named as an additional service.