City to Hold Workshops to Set Budget

The following is a press release from the City of South Pasadena. All inquires should be directed to Interim City Manager Sergio Gonzalez at 626-403-7210.

The City of South Pasadena is launching an interactive budget planning process for the Fiscal Year 2012-13 with many opportunities for the public to provide input between February and June 2012. 

“The City is encouraging the participation and input from all stakeholders in the community to participate in a process that promotes a transparent City Budget,” stated Mayor, Michael Cacciotti.

The public budget process is starting during the month of February with each City Commission and Board formally placing an item on their agenda to allow them the opportunity to provide input in regards to the needs of each city department so that the city staff can reasonably set priorities given time and fiscal constraints. All commission meetings are open to the public. Commission meeting schedules be accessed HERE. 

During the month of March, the process will include a series of public meetings.

• The first of two information budget meetings will be held on Wednesday, March 14, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Banquet Room located at 1055 Lohman Lane, South Pasadena, CA 91030. 
• The second information budget session will be held on Tuesday, March 20 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at the , located at 626 ½ Stratford Avenue, South Pasadena, CA 91030. 

These two budget sessions will be redundant and residents do not have to attend both. However, they will provide residents with an insight on how cities go about setting their budgets, where revenues are derived, and how decisions are made on expenses in light of pressing fiscal pressures, including but not limited to infrastructure needs, employee benefits and economic conditions. 

• An interactive budget workshop and Special City Council Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 29, 2012 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the, located at 435 Fair Oaks Avenue, South Pasadena, CA 91030.

A draft budget will be presented to the City Council during a regularly scheduled Council meeting in May, with the goal of formal adoption of the fiscal year (July 1, 2012-13) budget to take place in June.

For additional information, please call the City Manager’s Office at 626-403-7210.