FRESNO, CA (KMJ) Fresno Mayor Lee Brand on Tuesday unveiled a $1.138 billion budget for the fiscal year 2018.
The spending plan is Brand’s first since taking office in January. Mayor Brand will present the proposed budget to Fresno City Council at its meeting on Thursday, May 25, 2017. The City of Fresno’s budget must be adopted by June 30, per the city charter.
The 2018 budget proposal includes the following:
- Funds 21 additional sworn police personnel to increase sworn staffing to 825, the highest staffing level since 2010.
- Expands ShotspotterTM coverage from 6 to 9 square miles.
- Provides funding for new police substation in Southeast Fresno, as well as 50 new patrol vehicles and 14 motorcycles.
- Makes the Office of Independent Review a full-time, local position
- Continues the implementation of the Mayor’s Rental Housing Improvement Act by establishing the Proactive Rental Housing Inspection Program that will focus on dramatically improving the quality of rental housing available in Fresno.
- Expands the Weekend Health & Fitness Program to include instructional and recreational swimming programs at Fresno Unified and Central Unified schools.
- Provides $5 million in funding for neighborhood parks renovation projects.
- Provides over $26 million in funding for street maintenance projects.
- Provides funding for an Alley Maintenance Team which will be responsible for the semi-annual of cleaning of every alley within the City limits.
- Creates enhancements to the City’s online billing for utilities system.
- Reflects over $1 million in savings from the refinancing of the majority of the City’s debt; a total of $42 million in savings will be realized citywide over the life of the debt.
- Continues contributions to the City’s General Fund reserve, on track to reach a 10% reserve by FY 2020.
- Continues funding for the Economic Expansion Act and the Industrial/Large Office Development Impact Fee Elimination or Reduction (iDEFER) Program
- Includes funding needed to complete implementation of the new land management system that supports Business Friendly Fresno 2.0.
- Aligns one-time savings and revenues into a funding stream tied to the year when the General Fund debt shows significant reductions. In 2024 the General Fund annual debt will drop $3.5 million and by 2030 it will drop $14.8 million.
Click above to listen to a report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
Mayor Lee Brand presents his 2018 Fiscal Year budget for the City of Fresno.
“My vision for Fresno is to transform our economy.” -Fresno Mayor Lee Brand.
The 1.1 billion dollar budget puts an emphasis on continuing the city’s long term financial stability.
‘Which also includes $321 million for the City’s General Fund. It also it also focuses on four key initiatives: Economic Development, Public Safety, Quality of Life Improvements, and Prudent Fiscal Management. We’re planning to actively market surplus City properties and place all escrow proceeds into a new General Fund reserve account. – – Mayor Lee Brand.
The valley is know for the AG industry but the Mayor says we need to expand.
“Focusing on a specific industry group including E-Commerce and manufacturing in key strategic locations including the Industrial area near the Highway 41 and Highway 99 triangle.” -Mayor Lee Brand.
Public safety is also an issue for the city.
“21 additional police officers going to bring us to 825.” Chief Jerry Dyer.
Fresno Police will open two new substations one in the Southeast, the other in the Northwest.
