lakeport >> Road work, Wi-Fi and solar power are on the priority list as the city of Lakeport readies for the next fiscal year.
The city will have $5.54 million to use in the general funds for the budget in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins July 1. Forty percent of the funds will be going to police and law enforcement. The remainder will be put toward roads, public safety and economic development, amongst other goals.
“Our focus is service delivery, economic vitality and improving the quality of life,” Lakeport City Manager Silveira said. “The City Council has set its sights on these goals through its budget.”
In selecting priority projects, city officials were guided by results of a community survey. For the 2017-18 budget year, the city is looking to complete the South Main Street/Soda Bay Road annexation, complete the Solar Array Project and replace old patrol vehicles. Strengthening Wi-Fi access in the downtown area is considered a potential benefit to economic development plans.
The passing of Measure Z allowed the city to fill gaps in the budget for the first time in years. Measure Z is a 1 cent local sales tax approved in the November 2016 election to address community priorities.
City officials expect an increase of $1.4 million over the next fiscal year.
“We look forward to not only being able to maintain the current services provided to the community, but also an enhancement of our police services, streets, and other critical services,” Silveira said.
She added that road repair is an important aspect, but extremely costly to do. Measure Z funds not just delegated toward road repair work, but for other city services, as well.
“To fix all the roads in the city would cost around $40 million,” Silveira said. “What we are looking to do is get our own equipment and be able to fix sections or parts that don’t need full repair.”
Since the recession in 2008 hit, recovering funds necessary for budget goals has been a long and difficult process. City coffers have still not fully recovered. Without receiving as much revenue in sales tax and property tax, Lakeport has not been able to provide services to its full capacity.
Yet city officials point to some recent progress. In the fiscal year just coming to a close, Lakeport completed water and sewer projects, the Downtown Main Street revitalization project, a few road projects, and an implementation of self-funding health care.
With more funds in place, Silveira said the city must put an emphasis on people, recruiting and retaining the best the city can afford.
