Cerritos City Council Adopts $122 Million Financial Plan for 2016-2017

City News Service

The Cerritos City Council/Successor Agency adopted a $122.3 million combined financial program for fiscal year 2016-2017 on June 20, 2016. The program includes a City operating budget of $87.8 million, $13 million for capital projects and a Cerritos Successor Agency budget of $21.5 million. The new fiscal year began on July 1, 2016 and concludes on June 30, 2017.

The budget maintains the City’s exceptional level of municipal services while taking into account the prolonged economic downturn and the State of California’s dissolution of redevelopment agencies. The dissolution of the Cerritos Redevelopment Agency has cost the City more than $32 million per year in revenue.

Capital Improvements

Some of the major capital improvement projects proposed in the budget include:

• $250,000 for sidewalk, curb and gutter rehabilitation

• $185,000 for alley rehabilitation (Palo Verde/Droxford)

• $25,000 for wheelchair-accessible ramps

• $100,000 for arterial street slurry seal

• $400,000 for residential street rehabilitation

• $78,000 for parkway planter improvements

• $730,000 for Del Amo Boulevard rehabilitation

Legislative and Administrative

Legislative and administrative operating expenses outlined in the budget total $2.6 million. This reflects the entire amount required to fund the ongoing operations of the City Council, City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk.

Community Development

The Community Development Department, which includes advance planning, building and safety, current planning, geographic information systems and economic development, was allocated $5.6 million for its operations.

Public Works

Approximately $16.9 million has been designated for the Public Works Department, which manages engineering, traffic circulation management, parks maintenance, sewer maintenance, facility maintenance, landscaping, trash collection, recycling, custodial services and the supervision of the City’s capital improvement projects.

Department of Water and Power

The Department of Water and Power includes the City’s water division and the electric utility. The department’s $15.5-million budget will cover items necessary for the operation of the Magnolia Power Plant, Cerritos Electric Utility and water operations, including utility maintenance, power expenses, operational charges and administrative fees.

Community and Safety Services

The Department of Community and Safety Services has been allocated roughly $24.7 million for community participation, recreation services, law enforcement and code enforcement. The Community and Safety Services budget includes funds that will allow the City to continue offering quality community programming at the Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park, in addition to cultural programming, excursion opportunities, sports and fitness programs and recreation classes. Some $14.1 million is budgeted for the ongoing priority of law enforcement and safety services, including Sheriff’s deputies, motorcycle officers and detectives.

Administrative Services

The Department of Administrative Services will receive $15.2 million for its operations, which include communications, finance, human resources, management information systems, support services, water billing and the Cerritos Library. The department’s budget includes costs to maintain the City’s water billing system, provide internal support to other departments and continue to provide valuable amenities and services at the Cerritos Library.

Theater Department

The Theater Department will receive $7.2 million for the operation of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA). The Theater Department budget encompasses theater administration; business management; marketing and management of the CCPA performances; operations and security; special event services; and ticket office personnel.

Copies of the approved City of Cerritos 2016-2017 Combined Financial Program will be available for public inspection in the office of the City Clerk or at the Cerritos Library in mid-August. Questions about the budget should be directed to the Department of Administrative Services at (562) 860-0311.