Downey's fiscal budget drops $13 million from last year
Photo by Pam Lane
DOWNEY — Most of Downey’s general fund spending will go towards police next fiscal year, according to a budget approved by the City Council on Monday.
Council members were presented with the city’s anticipated FY 2020-21 revenues and expenditures during a special meeting last week.
On Monday, the City Council approved a balanced $228.9 million spending plan, split between $93 million in general funds and $135 million in other funding: a roughly $13 million or 5.69% decrease from the previous year.
In fact, spending is down almost unanimously across the board in all departments, except for public works, which saw a 4% increase.
Still, the city is projecting $93.8 million in general fund expenditures, a majority of which – around 66% - will be spent on public safety.
More than $37 million (40%) will be spent on police. Fire will receive the next largest allocation, with over $24 million (26%).
A majority of the city’s general fund revenues will come from property and sales taxes, approximately $31.9 million (34%) and $30.4 million (32%) respectively.
Overall, general fund revenues declined more than $13 million, or 12%, from last year.
The proposed budget also accounted for a handful of staffing changes.
Notably, Community Development Director Aldo Schindler was formally reclassed to deputy city manager.
The end of the after-school ASPIRE program – which the city partnered with Downey Unified School District on – also resulted in three full-time staff reductions, and the transfer of two parks and recreation program coordinators from ASPIRE to parks and recreation programming. The cost of those positions was offset by the elimination of seven part-time positions.
In total, there are 425 full-time personnel currently staffed by the city.
Downey will end the current fiscal year with an estimated $27,564,834 in reserves. City officials are anticipating to finish the upcoming fiscal year at $27,569,928; netting just under $5,100 after projected revenues and spending.
As the state prepares to reopen this week, officials announced that the financial detriment to the city due to COVID-19 was not as large as initially anticipated.
Officials had originally expected to lose over $12.7 million in revenue over FY 2019-20 and FY 2020-21 but ultimately only lost $7.9 million, which will be subsidized by the federal government through the American Rescue Plan Act.
The budget was approved unanimously 4-0, with Councilmember Mario Trujillo excused.