The Santa Clarita City Council is set to hold a public hearing Tuesday night on the $183.3 million budget proposed for the city’s 2012/13 fiscal year.
If adopted at the council’s June 13 meeting, the budget represents a 15 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. The increase is due in large part to an increase in the city’s capital improvement program, according to an agenda report. The city reportedly secured some $14 million in federal and state grants.
The largest chunk of the budget is Santa Clarita’s general fund, representing $81.1 million in revenues – a 1 percent increase from the 2011/12 fiscal year. According to the report, sales tax revenue is projected to total $30.4 million in the coming fiscal year, which lasts from July 1 through June 30.
In other business, residents could see a 2.2 percent increase in city fees for everything from building and filming permits to sports programs and auto impound fees. Some fees would remain unaffected. The city examines its costs for services every five years, according to an agenda report.
City officials estimate that the fee increases would add about $179,000 in additional annual revenue to the city’s general fund.
Also on Tuesday’s agenda, the council is poised to approve a $1 increase to its open-space acquisition assessment, rounding it out to $30 annually paid by property owners.
Since the open space preservation district was formed in 2007, the city has acquired 1,851 acres of open space, and anticipates adding about 2,00o acres more this year.
The city’s partners in the district include the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Riverside Land Conservancy and the Mountains Recreation Conservation Authority.
The City Council meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers at City Hall, located at 23920 Valencia Blvd. To view the agenda for the meeting click here.