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LOTS OF MANTECA NEEDS NOT IN BUDGET PROPOSAL
fire engine
The city has a need to spend $800,000 to replace one of its aging fire engines but won’t be funding it in the proposed budget for the fiscal year starting July 1.

What was cut from budget requests for the upcoming fiscal year starting July 1 speaks volumes about the financial quandary the City of Manteca finds itself in.

Despite a projected 10.9 percent rise in general fund unrestricted revenues for the next fiscal year that translates into $6.6 million the city has a list of unfunded pressing projects that need to be tackled that impact public health, public safety and municipal services such as street upkeep that exceeds $37.8 million.

Keep in mind these reflect needed expenditures to do the most pressing work and are far from being a wish list of nonessentials.

On top of that there 47 positions requested to help the city keep up with service levels as growth continues or else address service deficiencies that aren’t being funded in the proposed budget.

There are a dozen positions that will be added but only three will come from the general fund.

The new personnel envisioned in the proposed spending plan includes  three firefighters, a police lieutenant and two police officers funded with Measure M sales tax receipts. There is also a police officer trainee that will be covered by the general fund.

A homeless/housing services manager as well as project manager to move public works projects forward are among the positions proposed for funding.

Among the positions not being funded is a community service officer for traffic enforcement utilizing Measure M funds.

The need list for capital improvement projects includes:

*$8.7 million for a central sewer liner to avoid an aging pipe from deteriorating.

*$23 million for reclaimed water improvements.

*4.5 million for pavement maintenance.

*$1 million for a downtown specific plan.
*$6.5 million to rebuild the Powers Avenue fire station.

*$800,000 for a replacement fire engine.

*$1.175 million for Northgate softball field complex lighting renovations.
*$2 million for four replacement solid waste collection trucks.

The City Council is meeting today at noon for a special meeting to conduct a workshop on the preliminary budget. The meeting takes place at the Civic Council, chambers, 1001 W. Center St.