City Council To Decide on New $55 Million Proposed Budget

San Carlos city staff will be proposing a $55,604,500 budget to the city council for approval Monday, June 27 at the next city council meeting.

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 – a fund used for city infrastructure including technology, capital improvements, street resurfacing, system upgrades, storm pump, said administrative services director Rebecca Mendenhall told San Carlos Patch.

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 and public notices, Recreation Activity Guide expenses, as well as 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.

 The city council will be presented with this proposed budget Monday night, June 27. Come join San Carlos Patch to see what the council says about the budget.