Manteca’s municipal general fund budget has returned to double digit growth for the first time since the boom days at the dawn of the 21st century.
The proposed spending plan for the fiscal year starting July 1 calls for a $39,432,408 general fund budget. That reflects an 11.6 percent increase over the current fiscal year budget of $35,331.915. The general fund pays for day-to-day operations such as police, fire, parks, streets, and general government.
The overall city budget that includes projects funded by growth fees, remaining redevelopment agency funds, state and federal grants, plus landscape maintenance districts as well as the water, sewer and solid waste operations is pegged at $132,365,080 for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. The overall budget includes $21,807,480 in spending for capital improvement projects.
The two largest sources of general fund revenue — sales tax and property tax — continue to show growth.
Sales tax in Manteca for the first quarter of 2017 that covers taxable spending in January, February and March was up 5.8% compared to the same period in 2016. Statewide, sales tax receipts were up 2.8 percent in the same quarter-to-quarter comparison.
The 12-month year-to-date benchmark shows San Joaquin County sales tax up 4.1 percent while Manteca’s sales tax rose 4.9 percent.
Property tax receipts jumped 7.5 percent for the current fiscal year. They are expected to do the same for the upcoming fiscal year based on housing growth and business park development.
The budget as proposed includes:
uIncreases to employee compensation and benefits including a 2 percent increase on Jan. 1, 2018 and the 2 percent reopener as negotiated in the July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2019 bargaining agreements,
uIncreased contributions to the California Public Employees Retirement System.
uTransitioning three police officers from the Public Safety Endowment Fund that is rapidly being depleted to the general fund.
uThe addition of one parks planning and project supervisor.
u$15,000 for the city’s centennial celebration including keys to the city.
u$250,000 for the continued subsidy of the recreation fund.
u$48,000 for grant writing services.
u$62,500 for lobbying efforts.
u$20,000 for leadership training for the City Council and new city manager.
Funding for the six firefighters hired by a federal grant that expire Dec. 31, 2017 will be partially picked up by the public safety endowment fund that is projected to have a remaining balance of $2.1 million on June 30. Four of the positions will be covered by the endowment fund. The other two firefighters will be funded through the half cent sales tax as there are two vacant positions that haven’t been filled. The end result will be two less firefighters but no current firefighter would lose their job.
Development service fees will allow the hiring of a plans examiner II and assistant engineer.
Development agreement fees original paid for sewer allocation certainty will provide funding for the emergency operations center, a replacement fire engine, and the library roof replacement.
To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com
