Cerritos City Council Adopts 2013-2014 Financial Plan

This press releases was written by the city of Cerritos.

The Cerritos City Council/Successor Agency adopted a $107.1 million combined financial program for fiscal year 2013-2014 on June 27, 2013. 

The program consists of a city operating budget of $85.7 million, including $2.2 million for capital improvements, and a Cerritos Successor Agency budget of $21.4 million. The new fiscal year began on July 1, 2013 and will conclude on June 30, 2014.

The budget maintains the city's exceptional level of municipal services while taking into account the prolonged economic downturn and the State of California's dissolution of redevelopment agencies. The dissolution of the Cerritos Redevelopment Agency has cost the city more than $35 million per year in income. The city's operating budget of $83.5 million, excluding capital projects, reflects a 3.11 percent decrease from the prior year.

Capital Improvements
Some of the major capital improvement projects approved in the budget include:
- $300,000 for Citywide playground equipment and improvements 
- $50,000 for CCPA operational improvements and emergency maintenance 
- $100,000 for Cerritos Library exterior paint 
- $700,000 for Studebaker Road improvement from South Street to Artesia Boulevard (funding includes STP-L Funds)
- $200,000 for parkway/planter block wall improvements 
- $150,000 for College Place reconstruction, west of Studebaker Road 
- $150,000 for arterial street slurry seal
- $100,000 for sidewalk, curb and gutter rehabilitation
- $82,000 for various construction projects for implementation of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Municipal Storm Water Permit
- $200,000 for resurfacing and re-striping of auto storage facility adjacent to the San Gabriel River Channel

Legislative and Administrative
Legislative and administrative operating plans outlined in the budget total $2,055,370 million. This reflects the entire amount required to fund the ongoing operations of the City Council, City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk, as well as the budget for the Fine Arts and Historical Commission.

Community Development
The Community Development Department, which includes advance planning, building and safety, current planning, geographic information systems and economic development, was allocated $5.2 million for its operations. 

Public Works
Approximately $16.6 million has been designated for the Public Works Department. Within the department are such diverse functions as engineering, traffic circulation management, parks maintenance, sewer maintenance, facility maintenance, landscaping, trash collection, recycling, custodial services and the supervision of the City capital improvement projects.

Department of Water and Power
The Department of Water and Power includes the City's water division and the electric utility. The department's $14.9 million budget will cover items necessary for the operation of the Magnolia Power Plant, Cerritos Electric Utility and water operations including utility maintenance, power expenses, operational charges and administrative fees. 

Community and Safety Services
The Department of Community and Safety Services has been allocated nearly $24 million for community participation, recreation services, community safety and code enforcement. The Community and Safety Services budget includes funds that will allow the City to continue offering quality community programming at the Cerritos Senior Center at Pat Nixon Park, in addition to cultural programming, excursion opportunities, sports and fitness programs and recreation classes. Some $15.8 million is budgeted for safety services, an ongoing priority.

Administrative Services
The Department of Administrative Services will receive $14.6 million for its operations, which include communications, finance, human resources, management information systems, support services, water billing and the Cerritos Library. The department's budget includes costs to maintain the City's water billing system, provide internal support to other departments and continue to provide valuable amenities and services at the Cerritos Library. 

Theater Department
The Theater Department will receive $6.1 million for the operation of the Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts (CCPA). The Theater Department budget encompasses theater administration; business management; marketing and management of the CCPA performances; operations and security; special event services; and ticket office personnel.

Copies of the approved City of Cerritos 2013-2014 Combined Financial Program are available for public inspection in the office of the City Clerk or at the Cerritos Library. Questions about the budget should be directed to the Department of Administrative Services at (562) 860-0311.