Public Health, Police and Fire Department Budgets Focus of Monday Hearings

Pasadena’s City Council will continue public hearings Monday on the proposed operating budget for 2016 as the June 22 deadline to pass the financial package draws closer.

Monday’s lengthy budget discussions will begin during the Finance Committee’s meeting from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. then continue at the public hearing portion of the Council’s meeting at 7 p.m.

The budget proposals for seven of the city’s departments will be scrutinized Monday. Among them are those departments that provide critical services such as public health, police, and fire.

Last week, in an interview by Pasadena Weekly, Mayor Terry Tornek said that the budget allocations for the Pasadena Police now include funds for procuring body cams for police officers and for hiring a police ombudsman.

“I have asked [City Manager] Michael [Beck] to put it in the budget for this year — and body cams are in there,” Tornek told the newspaper.

It is unclear if police officers’ complaints about low pay are addressed in the budget as it is being presented.

The public hearings on the budget will continue for two more Monday City Council meetings (on June 15 and 22) and are required to conclude with a vote on the latter date.

Below is a chart showing when the city’s various departments are scheduled to be examined prior to final budget approval.

The city’s budget proposal specifies appropriations totaling $683.3 million with city revenues topping $754 million.

Next fiscal year’s projected revenue figures are some $9 million higher than for 2015 while appropriations are about $16 million lower than that for the current fiscal year.

The full proposed budget may read online here.

Pasadena residents who may want to take part in the hearings may attend the Finance Committee meeting in the City Council Chambers and the Council Meeting at the same location at 6:30 p.m.

The hearings will also be aired live on KPAS at Charter Cable System Channel 3 or online at http://www.pasadenamedia.tv/kpas.