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(Published
07.17.02) Despite
an uncertain economy and the looming threat by state
government to raid local revenues, Lakewood's $47-million
budget means additional investment in public safety
programs, park development, streets and water system
improvements, and technology.
The
City of Lakewood makes "sense" of its dollars
and cents in a carefully constructed budget that is
far more than a collection of numbers and tables. City
council members and city staff regard the budget, adopted
in June each year, as a tool for planning, a yardstick
for measuring progress, and a resource for long-range
forecasting.
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Water main installation.
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Decisions
about the city’s 2002-2003 fiscal year budget
were clouded by California’s worsening budget
deficit, the
uneasy conditions of the national and regional economies,
and the lingering effects of the terrorist attacks
of September 11. |
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Public
safety and neighborhoods lead budget priorities
Service
levels in two areas - enhanced neighborhood preservation programs
and law enforcement - will increase in response to city council
priority setting and community input. The budget continues
community-based crime prevention and crime suppression programs
begun in FY 1999-2000.
"Lakewood
neighborhoods are benefiting from the success of programs
like the property abatement team, the Lakewood Apartments
Nuisance Deterrent program, and the use of targeted enforcement
units at Lakewood Center. We'll continue to emphasize nuisance
abatement, school and residential traffic control, park safety,
and shopping center safety in the new fiscal year," City
Manager Howard Chambers said in his budget message to the
city council.
The FY 2002-2003
budget anticipates no cutbacks in these service levels because
of state budget decisions. However, cutbacks to critical municipal
programs may be necessary, Chambers noted, if the legislature
doesn't adopt the governor's plan to partially restore the
motor vehicle license fee.
A portion
of this fee is returned to cities to pay for basic municipal
services, like law enforcement, park programs, and infrastructure
maintenance. In Lakewood, revenue from the state-collected
vehicle license fee in the new fiscal year is estimated to
be $4.5 million (about 14 percent of the city's general fund
budget).
Sheriff's deputies patrol
Lakewood Center
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Brightening
the fiscal picture for Lakewood is an expected four percent
growth in retail sales tax revenue, which follows a substantial
six percent revenue increase in the previous fiscal year.
Sales tax revenue for the new fiscal year is estimated to
reach about $10.3 million. The construction of a new Target
store and Kohl's department store in Lakewood and the further
expansion of mall shops at Lakewood Center, say city officials,
should offset any weakness in the regional retail economy.
About $20
million of the city's new budget is in the form of contract
services, with Sheriff's law enforcement being the largest.
Lakewood, as the first “contract city” nearly
50 years ago, pioneered contracting with the county and private
businesses to control the local government costs.
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The
impacts of new storm water and storm drain runoff regulations
concern city officials.
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Chambers'
budget presentation also detailed ten focus areas
for FY 2002-2003: intergovernmental relations, public
safety, infrastructure improvements, economic development,
park improvements, solid waste management, "storm
water tax" impacts, housing strategy, technology
planning and implementation.
Lakewood's
FY 2002-2003 Budget: By the Numbers
- Total revenues are estimated
at $39.8 million for FY 2002-2003.
- General government appropriations
total $40.7 million for FY 2002-2003. (The budget
calls for the use of $680,000 in FY 2002-2003 in General
Fund reserves for capital improvement projects.)
- Sales tax revenue is estimated
at $10.3 million for FY 2002-2003.
- State-collected local
taxes (subventions) are estimated at $6.5 million.
The largest of these is the Motor Vehicle License
Fee ($4.5 million in revenues projected for FY 2002-2003).
- Property tax revenues
are projected at $2.5 million for FY 2002-2003.
- Approximately 43% of the
budget is allocated for contract services by both
public and private sector agencies. Lakewood contracts
with private firms for trash collection, traffic signal
maintenance, street lighting maintenance, and street
sweeping. By contract, Los Angeles County provides
law enforcement, road repair, and building inspection
and civil engineering services.
- Major contracts in FY
2002-2003 include law enforcement by the Los Angeles
County Sheriff's Department ($7.2 million, including
the operation of the Sky Knight helicopter patrol
program), refuse collection ($1.8 million) and refuse
disposal ($1.7 million).
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