SCVNews.com | Opinion/Commentary: City Finances Sitting Pretty with AAA Rating

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City Finances Sitting Pretty with AAA Rating

Guest Commentary by City Manager Ken Pulskamp

By Ken Pulskamp | Sunday, Nov 4, 2012

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Ken Pulskamp

You will be pleased to know that your city is doing well fiscally. This year, we’ve seen a slight uptick in our sales tax revenues, which is a good indicator for our local economy.

Earlier this year, Santa Clarita received its third credit upgrade in five years from Standard and Poor’s. We now have a AAA credit rating, the highest possible rating a municipality can achieve.

We continue with our 100 percent track record for a balanced and on time budget, with a 16-percent reserve fund. If you would like to take a look at the city’s budget for this fiscal year, you can view it on our website at http://www.santa-clarita.com/budget.

Our Capital Improvement Program for 2012 is well underway with a number of projects in various stages throughout the city. We’re replacing paseo bridges in Valencia, overlaying streets throughout the community and adding landscaped medians in Canyon Country, as well as new off-street bike trail connections.

McBean Parkway will see some upgrades this year, including adding more lanes and a new bus turnout. A new park and ride facility is currently under construction at the McBean Transfer Station, and we are adding more parking spaces at the Valencia library.

I also wanted to take this opportunity to remind you to take a look at your emergency kits and evacuations plans. If you don’t have either, this is a great time to make that happen. The city offers a wide variety of emergency information on our website to help you get started. You can find this information at http://www.santa-clarita.com/Index.aspx?page=507 (or just type “emergency preparedness” into the city website search engine at www.santa-clarita.com).

As always, your thoughts, ideas and suggestions are welcome. Please feel free to email me directly at kpulskamp@santa-clarita.com.

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

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