SANTA PAULA : Residents to Get Say in Budget Plan
Santa Paula residents who criticized city officials for recent budget decisions will play an active part in hashing out next year’s budget plan.
The Santa Paula City Council this week formed the Citizens Budget Review Committee and appointed 10 residents who have been outspoken on budget matters.
Santa Paula narrowly balanced its $11.9-million budget this year by eliminating some programs and freezing cost-of-living raises.
“This year’s budget was particularly difficult and made a lot of people unhappy,” Mayor Margaret Ely said. “This way we can get some of them into the process instead of having them feel alienated.”
The committee, which will have access to county staff members, will advise the council on budget decisions.
Committee members are John Wisda, Alan Teague, Flo Zakarajshek, John Gould, Jim McCoy, Bob Smith, Jess Victoria, Jack Hogan, Jess Ornelas and Laura Espinosa.
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