Budget is passed; official gets raise

Tuesday, June 21, 2005 12:55 PM PDT

JESSICA KELLER - ARGUS OBSERVER

ONTARIO - The Ontario City Council approved the 2005 through 2007 biennium budget at Monday night's regularly scheduled meeting.

Ontario's budget committee approved a budget of $45,906,344 during its budget sessions in May. That budget figure, with some minor adjustments, was approved by the local elected board. The final budget approved was $45,945,541.

Even with a last minute adjustment - incorporating a $39,197 grant to the police department from a violence against women agency - into the revenues and expenditure side of the grant fund, the final budget figure was still $10 million less than what the city approved for the 2003 to 2004 and 2004 to 2005 budget cycles.

Ontario City Councilman Earl Cheatham commended the city for cutting $10 million from its budget, especially in light of the city's budgeting difficulties.

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"And when you save $10 million, that's significant," Cheatham said.

Ontario Finance Director Rachel Hopper said much of the decrease in the budget can be attributed to less revenue - either from cost saving efforts or a decrease in the amount of property taxes received from the county.

The City Council took care of other housekeeping items during Monday night's meeting as well, including a public hearing for accepting revenue sharing from the state in the 2005 through 2006 budget year.

Hopper told the council the city expected to receive $64,000 from the state in revenue sharing, and the council passed a resolution to accept the funds without discussion.

"I sure hope it continues," City Councilman John Gaskill said, stating the current measures the state Legislature is proposing regarding lottery funds would not necessarily benefit local governments.

The council did not have a Transportation System Plan public hearing because city planner Grant Young did not have any information to present to the city from the consultant hired for the project because of technical difficulties in transmission.

The council was set to review the regulating ordinances of the transportation system plan at last night's meeting, but now will carry the discussion forward to the July 18 meeting.

The city will also meet one time in between then with the consultant in an informal, informational public meeting to answer any questions city residents may have about city goals regarding the TSP plan.

The City Council also met in executive session to discuss City Manager Scott Trainor's evaluation. After entering back into regular session, the council voted to give Trainor a 3 percent raise.