Palmdale’s Boom Pushes City Budget to $35.3 Million

The Palmdale City Council on Monday night approved a $35.3-million city budget, 38% above last year’s, along with a $19.3-million Redevelopment Agency budget, almost double the previous year’s figure.

Hefty hikes in law enforcement spending, capital improvements, development projects and additional workers to handle the city’s continuing growth account for the spending increases for fiscal 1989-90.

The council approved the budget by a unanimous vote at its regular meeting.

The council agreed to pay for seven additional Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies to be assigned to Palmdale. Along with equipment and other costs, that pushed expenditures for law enforcement from about $2.9 million to about $4.5 million.

Increasing Crime

The new deputies are needed to keep up with increases in population and crime, particularly drug and gang activity, officials said. Palmdale’s population grew 17% last year to 45,900, but serious crimes grew 25%.

The 1989-90 budget also includes a capital improvements package of $11.8 million, including $6 million for a new city park, $2 million for drainage work and $670,000 for a new park-and-ride facility.

The city will add 20 new workers to bring the total city work force to 184. Five of the new employees will be in the Planning Department.

The council also serves as the Redevelopment Agency board. City government expansion and major development projects contributed to the sharp rise in the Redevelopment Agency budget from the previous fiscal year’s $10.1 million to $19.3 million.

Of that amount, about $13.4 million will go for capital improvements. The council approved spending $1.3 million on acquisition of the Palmdale Elementary School District headquarters adjacent to City Hall.

2 Projects

Two much-heralded projects account for another $5 million: a $2-million loan to the developer of a major regional shopping center and $3 million for acquisition of land for an auto mall.

The agency will also spend $3.9 million for construction of a performing arts center and $5.9 million for debt repayment.

Projected city revenues for the new fiscal year went from $22.9 million to $27.6 million, led by $4.3 million in building permits, officials said.

The city will use part of a hefty $14.4 million reserve to balance the $35 million in expenditures, leaving a reserve of $6.6 million. City officials believe that dipping into the reserves is warranted given the intense pace of growth, Finance Director Bill Ramsey said.