Proposed Budget Could Cut Gold Link Shuttle, Library Funding

With the city's Finance Director, Chu Thai, presenting City Council with budget options for the 2011-2012 fiscal year Wednesday night, Council members discussed cutting the and prioritizing street renovations.

"I think we should have a balanced budget—none of these options are good," said Council member Philip Putnam in reference to one of the original plans, which would have allocated $1.2 million to street improvements and cut library funding by $50,000. 

Instead, the city discussed spending $2 million on various roads and cutting library funds by $20,000. This would leave the library's overall budget at $380,000, versus the $400,000 it is projected to have spent at the end of this fiscal year. 

The cut in funds would come to the library's operating and maintenance costs, which means residents may see fewer options in books, DVDs and magazines, said City Librarian Steve Fjeldsted. 

Two library trustees also stood before Council Wednesday commenting on the importance of its services. The Library’s overall circulation of materials for fiscal year 2009-10 jumped beyond 431,000—more than 25,000 above the total for 2008-09. 

"[The library] really is one of the cultural centers of South Pasadena," said trustee Ann Penn. "It's provided opportunities for all of our city to listen, learn, participate and experience and enhance their lives."

Among cuts will also be the , which costs the city $100,000 per year. Since this service is funded by Prop A and C funds (money intended to improve transit infrastructure or provide affordable public transportation), the city can now use that money towards improving various roads. 

In July, the city had planned to add two stops to the Gold Link shuttle in hopes of increasing ridership and making the service more accessible to students. Twelve families living in the Monterey Hills area signed a petition in favor of using the bus as transportation to South Pas schools. But the City's Communnity Services Director Sheila Pautsch says if Council approves the budget on June 15, Gold Link services will be cut immediately.

According to Chu's presentation, the General Fund is expected to end with $10,364,887 in reserves in the next fiscal year. With the allocation of $7,800,607 of that still undecided, the remaining $2,564,280 is set aside for the  facility, equipment replacement, legal expenses, renewable energy sources, retiree health benefits and uninsured losses.

Although the General Fund was originally projected to use $167,000 in reserves, there may not be any need to dip into reserves based on the Council's discussion. This will be finalized sometime this week, according to the City's finance department. 

Council members are slated to vote on budget at the next Council meeting June 15. 

For a full list of streets projected to be renovated, click HERE.