The City Council recently adopted our new 2016-17 annual operating and capital improvement program budget, and I want to share a few highlights with you.

This year’s budget is our largest ever at $220 million. We pride ourselves on having a 100-percent track record for a balanced and on-time budget and our AAA credit rating from Standard and Poor’s. As part of our conservative fiscal approach to managing the city budget, this year we increased our reserves to 20 percent.

Our annual budget includes allocations for services, projects and programs that are also part of the city’s five-year plan, “Santa Clarita 2020.” You can view the plan at www.SantaClarita2020.com.

Some of this year’s budget highlights include: $1.5 million to design the new Canyon Country Community Center; $15.2 million for the construction of a new parking structure in Old Town Newhall; $2.5 million to design the new Saugus Library Center; $2.9 million to build a pedestrian bridge over Sierra Highway at Golden Valley Road.

Also: $3.6 million to build the Vista Canyon Regional Transit Center; $7.7 million for new transit buses, commuter coaches and Dial-a-Ride buses; $3 million to design the Via Princessa Road extension from Golden Valley to Isabella Parkway; and $250,000 to build Phase 5 of the Sand Canyon Trail.

Also as part of this year’s budget, the City Council has allocated $180,000 for community service and art grants that benefit local nonprofit organizations.

If you are interested in reviewing the budget in its entirety, including budgets from past years, check out the city’s website at www.santa-clarita.com/Budget.

You can always email me directly at kstriplin@santa-clarita.com.

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