Lifeguards, police computers, street repairs: Newport’s $278M budget proposal gets an early look
Newport Beach is looking to increase its staffing of part-time seasonal lifeguards as part of its budget for fiscal 2016-17. A Corona del Mar lifeguard tower is shown in 2014.
The city of Newport Beach has budgeted for a new community service officer position, new police car computers, increased staffing of part-time seasonal lifeguards and increased emergency ambulance service during summer months, according to a proposed $278-million spending plan for the coming fiscal year.
The city Finance Committee on Thursday got its first overall look at the budget for fiscal 2016-17, which begins July 1. The seven-member committee will continue its review at 4 p.m. Wednesday in the Newport Coast Conference Room, Bay 2E, 100 Civic Center Drive.
Anticipated general fund expenditures are $195.7 million, down $5.7 million from the revised 2015-16 budget. The lion’s share of that — $134 million — is proposed for employee salaries and benefits. About $55.3 million is expected to fund maintenance and operations.
General fund revenue is projected at $199.2 million from sources including property, sales and lodging occupancy taxes.
The city also has budgeted $64.7 million for capital improvements, which include long- and short-term construction projects for streets, buildings, parks and beaches. About $37.4 million of the total was rebudgeted from previous years. The capital improvement plan eventually will be adopted with the city’s overall budget by the Finance Committee and the City Council.
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Highlights of the capital improvement plan for the coming fiscal year include:
• $23.5 million for street repairs and drainage, including turf replacement in city medians, storm drain water quality improvements and streetlight replacement
• $12.33 million for facilities projects, including repairs and reconstruction of fire stations, a remodel of the Police Department headquarters and design of the West Newport Community Center
• $13.26 million for parks, the harbor and beaches, including the eventual replacement of the aging Balboa Island sea walls, Grand Canal dredging and Sunset Ridge Park access studies
• About $6.55 million for water quality and environmental projects, including Semenuik Slough dredging and Bayview Heights drainage and runoff treatment
• About $2.45 million for transportation projects including traffic signal synchronization and Mariner’s Mile street configuration and land use plans
Being on the list for 2016-17 doesn’t necessarily mean a project will be completed during that year, according to budget documents.
The budget also shows that about $1.7 million in surplus money is proposed to help fund neighborhood enhancements such as Irvine Avenue pavement and landscaping, median landscaping and utility undergrounding assessment districts for city-owned properties.
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About $3.5 million in surplus funds has not been committed, but City Manager Dave Kiff is recommending that city leaders allocate those dollars to the sewer fund, which pays for line repairs and other projects necessary to maintain the city’s 50-year-old sewer system.
The fund for wastewater service is quickly running out of money, according to Municipal Operations Director George Murdoch. The City Council had considered increasing customers’ wastewater rates over a five-year period, but council members denied the proposal in March.
Kiff said that if the $3.5 million is put into the sewer fund, future customer rate increases could be lower.
City Council members are expected to get their first look at the spending plan during a study session May 24.
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Twitter: @HannahFryTCN
