Yorba Linda City Council adopts budget priorities for next two years, readopts four citywide goals

Several strategic budget priorities have been adopted by Yorba Linda's City Council to guide the city's top-level management staff in drafting a two-year budget for council's consideration.

Spending plans for the 2017-18 fiscal year that begins July 1 and the 2018-19 fiscal year are expected to be presented at an upcoming council meeting. Income and expenditures will be in the $33 million to $34 million range, based on figures for the current and last budget years.

Four citywide goals originally approved in 2011 were readopted on a unanimous council vote in April, but new, shorter-term priorities were established to steer budget-building for the next two years, replacing the 22 that were adopted six years ago.

Some of the priorities crafted are general: “deliver excellent public safety services,” “improve the city's communications efforts” and “utilize technology to improve operational efficiencies.”

Improving communications involves an updated website and “increased use of social media.”

But others are more specific, and implementation could solve some longstanding problems.

For example, one priority is to “address the remaining General Fund subsidies” for funding shortfalls in a few of the individual zones in the city's Landscape Maintenance Assessment District.

Currently, citywide taxpayers are on the hook for providing services to some areas, since a few zones don't collect enough cash from property-owner assessments for needed upkeep. Election results are mixed, with owners in some zones approving higher fees and others opposed.

The problem is one of the city's thorniest ever, with solutions such as raising rates, cutting service, re-votes for assessment increases and identifying special benefits, all drawing ire from many of the affected residents.

Another key priority is to address liabilities and unfunded needs, subject of a report to council by Finance Director Scott Catlett last year, in which he identified unfunded $14.9 million in pension and $15.3 million for other post-employment liabilities, along with other city needs.

Additional priorities expected to be targeted are ensuring the city's pavement condition is maintained and setting aside money for replacement of vehicles, equipment and facilities.

And among other priorities: “enhance and add additional parks and other city facilities available to the public” and “maintain quality customer service and turnaround time for planning, building and engineering services.”

The city's four readopted goals certainly won't cause controversy: “provide a high quality community environment for all Yorba Linda residents and businesses” and “provide high quality, constituent-friendly city services.”

Also: “establish, maintain, and encourage a vibrant commercial and retail environment that provides business opportunities throughout the community” and “ensure the short-term and long-term financial security of the community.”