By JOE BOCANEGRA
Special to the NEWS
On Tuesday, the San Benito City Commission held its first budget workshop meeting to discuss the 2011-2012 fiscal year.
Finance Director Susan Crabtree proposed a budget of $9.4 million, the same as last year, but with some changes.
According to the proposed budget summary provided by City Secretary Lupita Passement, property taxes budgeted in fiscal year 2011-2012 are $3,424,164 – up from $3,346,697 that was recorded from the 2010-2011 report; non-property taxes went up from $3.74 million to $4.06. An influx of total fees and services was proposed from $577,165 to $756,712 while fines and forfeitures lowered from $894,311 to $602,400. Both licenses and permits and interest revenue are proposed to sink from $582,061 to $415,300 and from $27,767 to $10,500, respectively. The miscellaneous budget rose from $143,740 to $186,000.
The budget summary also suggested that about half of the city departments’ budgets may be cut, including public relations from $23,403 to $8,927, personnel and civil services from $118,929 to $98,783, finance from $260,056 to $257,166, planning and development from 223,802 to $206,842, police from $2,948,611 to $2,906,729, code enforcement from 315,308 to $311,182, street maintenance from $1,205,192 to $1,146,401, and public grounds maintenance from $490,328 to $367,573.
Departments proposed to gain an additional allotment of funds are the City Commission from $9,441 to $13,780, city management from $614,067 to $777,946, information technology from $236,937 to $334,572, the municipal court from $176,781 to $177,100, the fire department from $1,800,524 to $1,852,531, general maintenance from $286,955 to $288,347, and the public library from $223,585 to $232,855.
The summary also reads that the city is expected to have a surplus amount of $16,044, which officials hope will help with San Benito’s $2.4 million debt.
All cuts and gains remain preliminary as more budget workshops are held.
City Manager Manuel Lara said, “It is our duty to look at the budget and to streamline as much as we can, to make it affordable with what we have to work with it.” But he stressed that the community comes first. “The one thing we do not want to do is sacrifice the services of the community and the citizens.”
To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the Aug. 7 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.
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