City Council Could Pass Entire Annual Budget in a Single Meeting

In an extraordinary step, the City Council could adopt the city’s budget in one meeting.

On Monday, the Council is due to take up the budget for the 2021 fiscal year. Typically it takes multiple meetings and presentations from city departments before the budget is passed.

The City Charter mandates the budget be passed before the third Monday in May.

“In recognition of the extraordinary circumstances brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, similar to the adoption of the capital budget, staff is recommending the adoption of the annual

Operating Budget in a single Council meeting,” a city staff report reads.

The Recommended FY 2021 Operating Budget has a total recommended appropriations of $273,011,522 in the General Fund and $878,636,771 in all other funds.

According to a staff report, the 2021 Operating Budget is balanced without drawing upon the General Fund reserves.

“Nevertheless, staff will continue to monitor the financial realities of this public health crisis and recommend additional budget adjustments, if necessary. Staff has identified a series of

immediate budget reductions that are not expected to significantly impact existing service levels.”

The majority of the budget was prepared prior to the Stay At Home orders and therefore, reflected a much different fiscal environment.

The staff recommended budget includes minimal inflationary growth and a new list of approximately $2.47 million in reductions.

The reductions would come through eliminating vacant positions in several departments, including City Manager’s office, finance, fire among others and the reduction of overtime for civilians working in the Pasadena Police Department.

Non personnel reductions would come from reductions in consultant services, contract services, internal service utilities and PEG funding for PCAC.

The city previously made cuts to its Captial Improvement Program, including suicide mitigation plans for the suicide bridge.

“Although, the City entered the COVID-19 pandemic in a strong fiscal position, the projected economic losses are significant and unprecedented. Facing a host of economic questions posed by the pandemic, staff changed course during the annual budget process and modifiedits original plans in order to present a balanced Operating Budget while preserving essential

Services,” according to a city staff report.