Ken Striplin

On July 1, our new city budget goes into effect for fiscal year 2013-14. As in past years, the new budget is balanced, on-time, and includes a 17 percent reserve. The City’s annual budget reflects the priorities of our City Council, including public safety, preserving open space, maintaining our infrastructure, building new facilities and beautification throughout the community.

Since cityhood, our City Council has employed timeless and proven budget practices that have helped Santa Clarita to thrive. These include:

* The decisions made in the good times are more important than the decisions made during the bad times.

* Always live below our means.

* Run a lean organization.

* Use conservative five-year projects.

* Employ full cost recovery when setting fees.

* Diversify revenue.

* Use one-time money only for one-time expenses.

* When in doubt, contract out.

Where does the money come from?

The largest of the City’s funds is its general fund. This includes money derived from sales tax, property tax and development revenue. For Santa Clarita, sales tax is the largest contributor to the general fund. Our City receives one cent for every dollar spent in the City. We are seeing healthy gains in sales tax revenue as new businesses locate in Santa Clarita and existing businesses emerge from the recession.

Where does the money go to?

The biggest expenditure funds for the City are capital projects, which are the construction projects the City undertakes each year, and parks, recreation and community services. Other areas the City spends its money on are public safety, transit, libraries, and public works, to name a few.

This year, the City will be constructing the widening of the bridge over SR14 at Golden Valley Road, adding new traffic lanes and bike lanes. We also have a number of landscape projects around town, special events, service enhancements, increases in public safety, art projects, as well as street maintenance projects to keep our roadways smooth and pothole free. The new budget provides for funding for Central Park expansion and funding to continue improving Newhall and Canyon Country.

You are welcome to view the entire budget at the City’s website: www.santa-clarita.com/budget.

Thank you for your interest in our City. If you would like to reach me directly, feel free to email me: kstriplin@santa-clarita.com.

Ken Striplin is city manager of the city of Santa Clarita.