Funding City Government
2017 Long Beach Budget: The Good and Bad News
Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and City Manager Patrick West unveiled the proposed fiscal year 2017 Long Beach budget on August 1st. The $2.6 billion 2017 Long Beach budget gets a boost in this fiscal year from the recent passage of Measures A and B.
According to Mayor Garcia’s budget message, “Measure A will make a $384 million investment over the next decade.” Measure B creates “…a rainy day fund to offset service reductions in a future recession.”
Getting into the 2017 Long Beach Budget
In the accompanying budget message, City Manager Patrick West wrote, “We will use Measure A to maintain critical public safety services, as well as enhance public safety through the re-establishment of the South Police Division and restoration of Fire Station 8, boosting response Times throughout the city.” You can review the budget HERE.
The big area that got everyone’s attention was, of course, Public Safety. According to the proposed 2017 Long Beach budget, money has been allocated for:
- Police recruit academy
- Two Fire recruit academies
- Strategic investment of $2.2 million for overtime “..that the Police Chief may allocate for gang prevention efforts, violent crime suppression and other high priorities.”
Police Chief Robert Luna was cautiously elated.
Community Strategies in the 2017 Long Beach Budget
The proposed 2017 Long Beach budget highlighted $176,385 for the Be Safe Program. The summer program provides “structured activities for our young people in our parks during the summer” at seven locations around the city. That number equals only 8% of the $2.2 million in overtime for the Police Department.
PalacioMagazine.com asked Mayor Garcia about funding for community-based strategies for Public Safety including after school programs and the Arts.
2017 Long Beach Budget Highlights and Challenges
- Investment in Public Infrastructure: “The passage of Measure A allows the City to make an investment of $27.2 million in FY 17 to address the city’s aging and deteriorating infrastructure.” This is in addition to the City’s Capital Improvement Program of $49 million. This proposed 2017 Long Beach budget money will be used for streets, sidewalks, parks various facilities citywide.
- Focus on Economic Development: The budget adds an ombudsman position to assist with small business loan program, location assistance, and reporting and data analysis.
- Innovation and Efficiencies: In February 2015, the City accepted a $3 million three-year Bloomberg Philanthropies Team Grant. “The Grant is designed to improve the capacity of local governments to effectively design and implement new approaches the improve the lives of residents.” In the proposed 2017 Long Beach budget, the i-team as it’s known will work with City departments to undertake “a number of efficiency-oriented initiatives including installation of new LED streetlights, enhancement of GIS-based open data, implementation of ePlan check, and changing street sweeping routes and times, beginning with parking impacted neighborhoods.”
There are still challenges in the 2017 Long Beach budget.
The good news. Before the passage of Measure A, the city was facing a shortfall of $15.9 million over the three-year period (FY 17-19). The bad news. There’s still a projected deficit in FY 18 of $1.4 million and in FY 19 of $1.9 million.
City Council Reaction to 2017 Long Beach Budget
PalacioMagazine.com recorded reactions to the proposed 2017 Long Beach budget from Councilmembers Al Austin, Roberto Uranga and Suzie Price.
Community input into the budget process is welcomed. There will be community meetings along with City Council hearings where your voices can be heard. A schedule can be found HERE. The proposed 2017 Long beach budget must be approved by September 15. It goes into effect October 1.
More on the Proposed 2017 Long Beach Budget
To read more stories on the budget, you can visit: