CALABASAS : Budget Cuts Expected to Have Little Impact

Unlike many of its neighbors, the city of Calabasas should weather the expected storm of state budget cuts relatively unscathed, mostly because of its diverse revenue base, according to a city manager’s report.

Calabasas, which gets about half of its annual revenues of roughly $6 million from sales and utility taxes, is expected to lose about $100,000 in state property taxes--less than a 2% shortfall from last year’s general budget, City Manager Charles Cate reported in his budget message to the City Council.

“The property-tax loss does not affect Calabasas to the same extent as many other cities . . . primarily because we do not receive a very large share of the property-tax rate to begin with,” Cate said.

As a result of the healthy fiscal picture and below-budget spending last year, the city plans to invest more than $1 million in capital improvements, including the reconstruction of Wrencrest, Meadow Lark and Paul Revere drives between Old Topanga Canyon and Bon Homme roads, and Parkway Calabasas between Park Granada Boulevard and Park Entrada.

Other projects include building sidewalk ramps, bridge repairs, a recreation center and plans for the Lost Hills Park and the Old Town renovation.

By contrast, Agoura Hills, which is roughly the same size as Calabasas, plans to suspend most capital improvements, in part because of an expected property-tax shortfall of $315,000 and its lack of utility-tax revenues. The Agoura Hills budget is scheduled for submission to the City Council next week. Like Agoura Hills, Westlake Village also has put off most of its planned public improvements.