Final Budget Approved; Starts July 1
Today, the City Council met to approve our final budget for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2018. Here are some major points of interest from the budget hearing.
47 Additional Positions
While new positions are being added, we are 16 percent below 2008 staffing levels with the exception of public safety; public safety positions are 11 percent higher than they were in 2008.
67% Of Budget Goes Towards Public Safety
Public safety, which has been identified by residents and the City Council as a key priority, is the top area where money is currently spent. There will be 26 new marshals added throughout this coming fiscal year.
Funding New Projects
This year, major capital improvement funding was approved for a replacement of fire station 3, a parking garage in the Medical District, the Courtyard Homeless Resource Center and a new downtown courthouse for municipal court services.
Expanded Funding In Key Areas
As outlined by the City Council, additional funding will be devoted to key areas like public safety, LVMPD, park security, homeless initiatives, mobile integrated health care and neighborhood support of graffiti and tree programs.
Projected Deficit Of $12.1 Million By 2024
We are projecting a structural deficit of $12.1 million by 2024. While concerning, this represents one tenth of the deficit we faced during the Great Recession. “We see this as a manageable deficit and are preparing for it now by assembling Team 2020 to address this before it becomes an issue for us,” said City Manager Scott Adams.
