Costa Mesa council to study $144.6 million budget plan

A study session is scheduled for Tuesday for Costa Mesa City Council members to weigh in on the city’s next budget.

Residents are invited to attend and give their thoughts on the preliminary $144.6 million spending plan for fiscal 2016-17, which begins July 1.

The initial budget that council members will review Tuesday is balanced and maintains or enhances current city services, according to Costa Mesa Chief Executive Tom Hatch.

“Although current economic conditions continue to be favorable, this preliminary budget continues to be careful with our reliance on volatile sales tax revenue,” Hatch wrote in a budget message this week.

The total preliminary budget is about $9.6 million less than in the current fiscal year, according to the city.

The decrease is largely the result of a smaller capital improvement budget for next fiscal year. The preliminary capital budget — which includes spending on streets, sidewalks, parks and buildings — is just under $16 million, compared with nearly $25.8 million in the current budget.

Regarding capital spending, Hatch wrote that it’s “important to keep in mind that most projects are funded by restricted revenue sources or grants,” so there could be “significant differences from year to year in both the numbers of projects adopted and the total dollars budgeted.”

The council study session will begin at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive.