Measure U Tax and Potential Funding Cuts Likely to Be Budget Workshop Topics

Potential cuts to a federal program and new funding from Measure U may be some of the issues covered by city leaders in a new budget workshop.

During last night’s brief city council meeting, council members announced that the workshop is set for Feb. 24 starting at 5:30 p.m. The budget workshop will be open to the public.

Details on what the workshop will entail were not specific, but that discussions on how funds generated through the voter-approved 3.5 percent utility users tax, Measure U, would begin this month.

Mayor Dave Smith again expressed concern about foreseeable cuts to the Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) program.

CDBG is a federal program that has supported community development since 1974.

While city leaders are unsure of how much capital will be received through the program, the five-member board approved the allocation of $40,000 of the anticipated funds toward its Housing Rehabilitation fund and the remainder toward its Site Acquisition fund for the 2011-12 year.

The remainder is estimated to be $129,270. The estimation of the anticipated reserves is based on the 2010-11 funding amount of $239,763, according to city documents.

Smith said he has heard that cuts to CDBG funds could range anywhere from 5 percent to 25 percent.

“I have no idea where the bouncing ball is going to stop,” Smith said. “As I suspected last meeting, I think we will probably see some funding reduction this year.”

The council also approved amendments to its municipal zoning codes dealing with emergency homeless shelters, supportive housing and transitional housing. For more information on the amendments, click here to download last night's agenda packet.

Reclassification of a new position of a landscape inspector also gained consent at the meeting.

The landscape inspector position was previously a part-time seasonal temporary position. At a request from the Public Works Department, council members approved converting the position into a part-time regular position.