LOCAL COUNCIL PASSES BUDGET, CALLS FOR MORE ACTION TO REPAIR CITY STREETS

Vacaville passed a 2018-19 budget of $189.4 million on Tuesday June 26 with a caveat from the City Council to look for ways to bolster the Public Works Department to fix more streets.

City Councilman Curtis Hunt was concerned about how long it took to fix potholes and asked that the city manager meet with the public works director about speeding up the process.

“I don’t think that Public Works has enough staff,” Hunt said, pointing out that the department had been cut back significantly during the recession.

Hunt also added that more can be done to fix city streets faster. He said that keeping the city’s streets well-lighted is a public safety issue and combats crime.

Other council members agreed something needs to be done, with Councilwoman Dilenna Harris suggesting maybe the city can contract for the work.

The council approved a $189.4 million budget for the 2018-19 fiscal year. The general fund budget, which runs most of the city’s operations from police to planning, totaled $98.1 million.

The city manager wrote in his report to the council quote; “While challenges still exist, the city is currently enjoying a healthy economy and has made great strides in addressing deferred infrastructure, personnel and equipment needs.”

According to Daily Republic's article, "The budget includes adding four full-time positions: a fire battalion chief, two public works maintenance workers and a public transit coordinator."

Some of the money will go to paying for vehicles and equipment, as well as capital improvement projects that were put off during the Great Recession.

Vacaville’s funded capital improvement projects include 28 new projects, including eight which will be funded with Measure M money.

Some of the city’s capital improvement projects include starting the renovation of the Three Oaks Community Center, remodeling a fire station, street repair on East Monte Vista Avenue and Gibson Canyon Road, and downtown alley reconstruction.

The city will sock away $31.1 million into its reserves, but it was pointed out that reserves will steadily diminish during the next three years in order to cover the city’s cost of doing business.

Vacaville still faces having to deal with employee pension costs because of changes in the California Public Employees’ Retirement System and unfunded retirement plan liabilities.

That is expected to result in Vacaville spending more than $98 million more over the next 10 years.

Reporting for you live I'm Robert Rincon, from Robert's Daily Report News.