CLEARLAKE >> The City Council will consider approving the Clearlake’s 2016-2017 fiscal year budget at its meeting today.
The goal of the budget is to build upon the progress the city has recently made in reducing blight and increasing effectiveness, finance director Chris Becnel said. But since the city’s financial health improved only slightly, funding choices for further improvements were made with prejudice.
“It is important to remember that resources are still very limited and a focused and a selective plan of action will yield the most benefit to the city,” Becnel said. “It is better to do three or four things well than do too many things with mediocre results.”
Specifically, the budget has set aside $3.42 million for projects that modify the city’s dilapidated buildings and improve its roads.
“That will probably be the area where the citizens will see the most impact,” he added.
Investments will also be made in personnel as funding was granted for new positions, like a city engineer and additional counter staff at city hall and a 2-percent across the board increase in wages. According to Becnel, it will be the first such bump in nearly a decade.
The meeting begins at 6 p.m. at Clearlake City Hall, located at 14050 Olympic Drive.
