On July 1, the City’s new fiscal year begins and with it, our newly adopted budget begins.  I am pleased to let you know that Santa Clarita has a 100-percent track record for a balanced and on-time budget with a 20 percent reserve fund and a prestigious AAA Credit rating from Standard and Poors.

Since our City’s inception in 1987, we’ve been conservative in our budgeting which has consistently proven to be a successful approach in maintaining a balanced and responsible budget.

The first budget priority is the implementation of Santa Clarita 2020, a compilation of City Council goals, priorities, and various needs expressed by the community. We are nearing the completion of year one of this plan, and the organization will continue to focus on Santa Clarita 2020 over the next four years.

The Santa Clarita 2020 plan includes the City’s existing major work efforts, including the development of new projects, programs and facilities, and projects intended to sustain existing but aging infrastructure.

The plan is organized around six quality of life themes, which include: Public Safety; Building and Creating Community; Enhancing Economic Vitality; Community Beautification; Sustaining Public Infrastructure; and Proactive, Transparent, and Responsive Government Services.

Santa Clarita 2020 serves as a guide to prioritize resources, achieve milestones and maintain our commitment to providing the best services and facilities the City can offer, both today, and into the future.

Some of these facilities identified in Santa Clarita 2020 include:

* A new and permanent community center in Canyon Country

* A new tennis complex at Central Park in Saugus

* A new library and community rooms in Saugus

* Renovations to Old Orchard Park

* An Arts Master Plan

* Open space acquisitions and trail improvements

In addition to including new projects, Santa Clarita 2020 provides a focus on sustaining our aging infrastructure.

While the City is relatively young at 29 years old, much of our infrastructure including facilities, roads, sidewalks, and irrigation systems, are much older. Attention must be paid to these assets so they continue to be safe and functional.

Although the City will continue to focus on building new capital projects such as the parks, libraries, and community centers desired by the community, Santa Clarita 2020 guides our organization and outlines the balance between adding new amenities and maintaining and preserving the ones we already have.

You can view the Santa Clarita 2020 plan, as well as our current budget and past budgets online via the City’s website at Santa-Clarita.com.

Bob Kellar is the mayor of the city of Santa Clarita.