Clayton balances 2014-15 budget with small surplus

At the June 3 city council meeting, city staff proposed a $9.37million budget for 2014-2015 which includes $3.26 million in fiduciary funds. The General Fund budget balances with a small $30k surplus which assumes Misc. Employees’ salaries and benefits remain status quo. This surplus is supported by a healthy uptick in real property assessed values and further return of a portion of former Redevelopment Agency revenues to the General Fund. Capital projects planned for next year include a federal collector street rehab project targeting Keller Ridge Drive, a new SUV police car and replacement of a 23 year old Maintenance tractor. Last year’s budget suffered one-time spikes for audit delays/ finance dept. illness, overtime expenses for Clayton PD staffing shortages, and water overages caused by constant irrigation breakages at Community Park. Landscape District planned improvements include trail bridge renovations, a neighborhood median landscaping and refurbishing the downtown planters. Source: City Manager Gary Napper.